Scorecard

Old Citizens CC v St Albans Cricket Club 5XI on Sat 23 Jul 2022 at 13:30
St Albans Cricket Club Won 3 runs

Match report Unprecedented levels of availability led to a very strong looking 5th XI team arrive at the old Met Police ground in Bushey to face Old Citizens CC - an old boys team from central London. A very dry and brown wicket, parched outfield and blazing sunshine made for an easy decision to bat after winning the toss. Out strode James Grant and PD to face what turned out to be a very tidy opening bowler who challenged the technique of both openers. James benefited from having significantly more of the strike during the first 10 overs albeit with the run rate being a leisurely 3 an over. PD however was finding it harder to make in roads and was eventually bowled for 4 in the 9 over. The introduction of Uttam Vijender gave the run rate a welcomed boost although a quick fire 25 was ended by surprisingly sharp catch by the keeper. Enter the inform Josh Kleiner-Mann who continued on from where he left off last week and kept the run rate ticking along nicely. The introduction of Syed to the attack proved dividends and removed a set James for a well crafted 32. Conscious that the game was a shorter format 35 over affair the incoming Alexis Awonuga took advantage of some slow spin bowling and quickly accumulated 11 before being bowled by Syed. Jithin Kalarickal George was the next man up to try and partner with Josh and despite a nice flurry of runs was trapped LBW for 8. Joe Button joined Josh and started well but was bowled for 9 trying to attack the bowling. Josh was joined by his brother Nathan but he too fell quickly for 4. Nadeem Arif ("I'm a batter - don't you read the match reports?") in at 9 quickly demonstrated that indeed he has become an allrounder. With the score just passing 150 it felt that we needed at least another 40 from the final 5 overs and Nadeem and Josh set about the task. Josh continued batting very well until deciding to play a ramp shot to a full and straight delivery from Syed and duly adjudged LBW 5 short of his half century. Maybe try that shot once you've got your 50 was mentioned a few times....! With the final few overs to go Nadeem despatched the bowling it to all corners eventually being bowled for a rapid 24. With 3 balls left in the innings Charlie Bavister was joined by the skipper, both batters finding the boundary and ended up not out 6 and 5 respectively. So with 193 posted it seemed a defendable score with a team of no less than 9 bowlers but it felt that we should had probably got another 30 odd runs given the weakness of the fielding.
After the first cricket tea in over 2 years St Albans were in the field. Nadeem and Charlie were tasked with opening up. Unbeknownst to us their opener Malnick was in a hurry to leave early due to a family emergency and he certainly attacked the bowling like a man needing to be somewhere else. Unfortunately Charlie bore the brunt of his attack going for 33 in his 3 overs - not a fair reflection of how well he bowled and was unlucky not to get a wicket. A bowling change introduced Jithin who managed to slow up the attack and with Nadeem at the other end keeping things tight the opener got frustrated and tried to play one big shot too many, ending up losing his middle stump. 42 for 1 off 7 had the opposition well up with the required rate. With a 4 over spell of 1 - 9 Nadeem was replaced by leg spinner Josh who brought lots of challenging variations and was unlucky not have 3 more wickets during his 7 over spell, the one he did get courtesy of an outrageous one handed grab by Alexis at mid on. Not one for the coaching manual but we'll take it! So at drinks the game was well balanced and probably favouring the opposition - 103 for 2 off 18 overs. Another bowling change brought on Alexis with his flighted off breaks. A tidy 5 over spell going for 24 but sadly wicketless. Further rotation of the bowling introduced Joe but boundaries were found at regular intervals and a short 2 over spell for 0 - 16 led to a pace off approach from both ends with Uttam and PD. Unfortunately PD was unable to bring his usual control going for 16 off his one over. He was replaced by Nathan who bowled St Albans back into contention with some excellent pace and bounce proving to be too good for the batsmen - a spell of 4 overs 1 maiden 2 for 16 making a significant dent in the opposition run chase. He was ably supported at the other end by Uttam who was having his first bowl back from injury - 5 overs 1 - 23 an excellent return. With 12 required off the last over Nathan held his nerve and despite a brave effort from the batsmen they fell 3 short of the total.
All in all an enjoyable game played in the right spirit and surprisingly competitive.

St Albans Cricket Club 5XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
11w 6b  
for 9 wickets
17
193		        
James Grant b Syed 32 4
Prathamesh Deshpande b Asif 4
Uttam Vijender ct Syed 25 5
Joshua Kleiner-Mann lbw Syed 45 4
Alexis Awonuga b Syed 11 2 1
Jithin Kalarickal George lbw Shannon 8 1
Joe Button b Dinesh 9 1
Nathan Kleiner-Mann ct Dinesh 4
Nadeem Arif b Syed 24 3
Charles (Charlie) Bavister Not Out  6 1
Hugo Thomas Not Out  5 1

Old Citizens CC Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Asif7.0221121.003.00
Millett5.002200.004.40
Shannon7.0036136.005.14
Syed7.004759.406.71
Dinesh4.0029214.507.25
Bardsley3.002300.007.67
Malnick2.00800.004.00

Old Citizens CC Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
2nb 6w 6b 1lb 
for 5 wickets
15
190 (35.0 overs)		     
Malnick b Nadeem Arif 35
Hillman Not Out  49
Syed ct Joshua Kleiner-Mann 47
Ringer b Uttan Vijender 17
Asif b Nathan Kleiner-Mann 24
Millett b Nathan Kleiner-Mann 1
Bardsley Not Out  2
   
   
   
   

St Albans Cricket Club 5XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Nadeem Arif5.0212112.002.40
Charles (Charlie) Bavister3.003300.0011.00
Jithin Kalarickal George3.001000.003.33
Joshua Kleiner-Mann7.0040140.005.71
Alexis Awonuga5.002400.004.80
Joe Button2.001600.008.00
Uttam Vijender5.0023123.004.60
Prathamesh Deshpande1.001600.0016.00
Nathan Kleiner-Mann4.011628.004.00