Scorecard

St Albans Cricket Club 5XI v Ware 2XI on Sat 12 Aug 2023 at 13:00
St Albans Cricket Club Won by 83 runs

Match report Notable Performances: Imran Ahmed (22 & 3-8), Jude Berry (30)

With Ware having been the only team to beat the 5s this year, revenge was on the mind for a youthful side at Sandpit lane with 5 U14s in the team. A quick shower didn't delay losing the toss and Saints were sent in to bat. Shadwick and McNab followed orders to open cautiously and were both unfortunate to fall for 15 and 13 respectively, before Maroofkhel also fell to leave Saints 33-3 early on. All 3 of the wickets had fallen to good catches, generally a worrying sign of rare decent fielding at this level. The first two of the U14s came out to bat in Jude Berry and Riley Curtis, and although Curtis was bowled cheaply, Berry performed his usual anchor role brilliantly at the number 4 slot, helping the team to recover to 68-4 at drinks.

Ahmed and Berry continued to score, although struggled to accelerate again the very slow but accurate bowling of the Ware side, Ahmed eventually falling LBW for 22, bringing Captain Cocks to the crease. Immediately starting with a traditional outside edge for 4, Berry and Cocks decided the best way to salvage a score would be quick running between the wickets and so started to rotate strike with relative ease. Berry eventually fell caught for 30, but the total understates the importance of holding the innings together when wickets were falling around him. As the bowlers came out to join Cocks, the quick running continued although not always with great success. Cocks gave Hadden very little chance with a quick single and then Dan Hart also fell run out as he and Cocks continued to push the rate along, but not before hitting a few great shots to the deep. The final overs saw more quick running and a few boundaries, with Cocks eventually ending on 25 not out - another red inker, and more evidence for the unfounded rumour that he is really just playing for his average at this stage. Saints finished on 167-9 off their 40 overs, a decent score given the early wickets lost.

Tom Hadden opened the bowling with a classic spell, beating the edge around 10 times across his 6 overs and going for only 13 runs but somehow endeavouring to fail to take a wicket. At the other end Jamie Coffer also bowled accurately, and also deserved a wicket, but after 11 overs Ware were 33-0. Cocks returned to the tried and tested method of bringing on Ahmed as first change who, as always, found great success with his left arm spin. Every variation in the book, with the quicker ball causing all sorts of problems. He removed one opener bowled, while Riley Curtis at the other end saw a top edge caught by Fin McNab - McNab having not had the greatest history with catching success, many of the team celebrated with more surprise than jubilation that he'd held one of the more difficult chances he must ever have been presented with: Ball sailing over him, turning and sprinting after it and taking it full stretch. Ahmed then had Ware's 4 and 5 caught behind and bowled respectively to take Ware to 52-4 at drinks, Ahmed ending with impressive figures of 3-8.

After drinks it was time for the third of the four left arm seamers in the team - Zach Hawkes immediately finding great line, length and a bit of shape with the old ball, causing Ware's dwindling batting resources all sorts of trouble. Spin continued from the other end as well, with Fin McNab coming on. Hawkes took 2 wickets, one bowled and the other caught behind, while McNab's usual tricky loopy leg spin resulted in Hawkes taking a good catch at mid on. Berry and Maroofkhel came on to finish things off, with Berry taking a wicket caught behind, and Maroofkhel bowling one before yet another catch for McNab brought the game home for the Saints.

In the end a comfortable win by 83 runs, with great contributions by all 5 of the U14s as the 5s continue to march on in the league.

St Albans Cricket Club 5XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
6nb 17w 12b 2lb 
for 9 wickets
37
167		        
Matt Shadwick ct M. Cartwright 15
Fin McNab ct M. Cartwright 13 2
nasibullah Maroofkhel ct B. Kimpton 1
Jude Berry ct S. Risby 30
Riley Curtis b S. Compton 9
Imran Ahmed lbw J. Don 22
Tom Cocks Not Out  25 3
Tom Hadden Run out  3
Daniel Hart Run out  10
Jamie Coffer ct B. Kimpton 0
Zachary Hawkes Not Out  2 1

Ware 2XI Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
B. Kimpton8.0034217.004.25
M. Cartwright8.001929.502.37
S. Compton8.0127127.003.38
H. Andrews6.012500.004.17
S. Risby6.0024124.004.00
J. Don4.0021121.005.25

Ware 2XI Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
6nb 19w  
for 10 wickets
25
84 (33.4 overs)		     
A. Milton b I. Ahmed 21
G. Myers ct R. Curtis 13
D. Green b Z. Hawkes 2
S. Risby ct I. Ahmed 0
T. Andrews b I. Ahmed 2
S. Compton ct F. McNab 2
S. Don b N. Maroofkhel 6
S. Francis ct Z. Hawkes 0
M. Cartwright ct J. Berry 7
B. Kimpton Not Out  6
H. Andrews ct N. Maroofkhel 0

St Albans Cricket Club 5XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Tom Hadden6.001300.002.17
Jamie Coffer5.002000.004.00
Imran Ahmed5.02832.671.60
Riley Curtis4.0112112.003.00
Zachary Hawkes4.01522.501.25
Fin McNab4.01818.002.00
Jude Berry3.0011111.003.67
nasibullah Maroofkhel2.41321.501.13