Scorecard

St Albans Cricket Club Sunday 2nd XI v Palm Tree XI on Sun 16 Jul 2023 at 13:00
St Albans Cricket Club Won By 6 Wickets

Match report Skippered for the first time by Prath ‘PK’ Khatavkar, the Sunday 2s rocked up to CP for a friendly against Palm Tree CC. PKball is now rumoured to be the future format for the 5s next year, and so today faced its first real test. As all great captains do, he diligently lost the toss resulting in the boys taking the field.

After picking up the sight screens from the previous days severe weather, Saints opened the bowling with Sulaiman ‘Suli’ Nisar (debut) and Sudhanshu ‘Sud’ Suryavanshi. The former settled into adult cricket quickly, bowling excellent lines to challenge the openers, with PK denying him his first senior wicket dropping a tough chance at square leg. Sud beat the bat multiple times in a great spell and castled their No 1 early. PK and Ashish then came on to continue applying pressure, the pair causing all sorts of problems. Ashish grabbing the 2nd with a peach that clipped the top of off stump. PK bowled unforgiving lines and being unfortunate to go wicketless. Despite finding no reward, our skipper bowled extremely well, running against the wind and putting a choke on the run rate. Ashish and PK took their leave from the ball, handing over the reins to youngster Alexis Awonuga and dab hand Imran Ahmed.

Imran similarly unlucky in his spell with great variation and keeping things tight. Alexis at the other end used his tricky spin to make it difficult for batters to take on. Tempting the number 4 into a wild shot that was well taken by Ashish at mid-off. In the final 10 overs, skipper PK entrusted the youthful duo of Sulaiman and Ahaan. Sulaiman dismissing the dangerous opener for 57 just as he was looking to kick on. Ahaan taking the catch at square leg to grant Sulaiman his first senior wicket, well deserved for an outstanding spell.

Ahaan then proceeded to bowl a double wicket maiden. Marcus with a quick stumping, backing up a strong keeping performance and Sud with an easy catch for the other. Maroof, Satishmohan (1 wicket) and Moksy saw it through for the Saints with a Moksy wicket on the final ball. The opposition held to 168 on a good batting deck. It’s also worth noting a humorous comment made by the opposition skipper, who noted the fact we had no less than 10 people bowl, which he described as “just trying to show you’re all gun bowlers.” Well, you’re not wrong chief. A great bowling display all round and top work in the field, the lads deserved their Tavah wraps for tea. Refuelled, Saints opened the batting with the ever reliable Dean Sr and Jr partnership. It was tough going early on as they rotated strike, Ashish punishing bad balls and Ahaan picking gaps with brilliant timing. Ashish departed for a well-made 25, dismissed by a brilliant catch, which brought
Moksy to the crease. He wasted no time scoring his first runs with a powerful 6. Ahaan with a few more lovely shots before being caught, followed by Satish, having boldly declared himself as a gun bat to skipper PK, missed a straight one and was rewarded with the clattering sound of the stumps behind him. As the saying goes, 1 brings 2 and now the Saints were in a spot of bother.

Marcus came out to bat with 100 needed, a good partnership was required with Moksy. With sharp running, they put pressure on the Palm Tree fielders. Moksy with a destructive display of hitting, duly supported by Marcus who
knocked singles to get him back on strike. The former bringing up 50, before falling on 63 caught in the deep. A great knock yet again by Moksy who changed the game, navigating the Saints through a tricky period. Next up was Imran, who dealt solely in boundaries. His lethargic running between the stumps meant Marcus was almost stranded multiple times. Despite the dreadful running, the pair batted well. After seeing off the quick and accurate opening bowlers second spell, the target was within reach. Imran finishing it off with two 4s to end on 22*. Marcus got 35* in a smart knock, playing the situation and guiding Saints over the line. PK’s Sunday Soldiers claiming the win. PKball is clearly the way forward, and will now be the only format played throughout all the teams in Herts.

Fineable moments:
Skipper PK dropping a tough chance for Sulaiman’s first senior wicket.
Alexis for being a sieve in the field.
Imran for refusing to run 3s despite there being enough time to run 5
Notable Performances:
The young trio of Ahaan, Alexis and Sulaiman, a testament to the youth
section, Sulaiman especially for a great spell of bowling on debut.

Palm Tree XI Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
1nb 2w 4b 2lb 
for 9 wickets
9
168 (40.0 overs)		     
J. Treasure b  Sud 11 11 1 100
M. Robins ct  Nisar 57 89 9 64.04
J. Tennison b  Ashish 2
R. Karunakaran ct  Awonuga 32 54 4 59.26
N. Hariharan st  Ahaan 11 12 2 91.67
M. Cromarty b  Islam 31 30 3 103.33
J. O'Brien ct  Ahaan 0 2 0
C. Waite ct  Satish 7 8 1 87.50
A. Gallagher Run out  6 5 120.0
K. Reeves Not Out  2 3 66.67
   

St Albans Cricket Club Sunday 2nd XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Sulaiman Nisar8.0038138.004.75
Sudhanshu Suryavanshi5.0115115.003.00
Ashish Dean4.0013113.003.25
Prath Khatavkar5.002600.005.20
Alexis Awonuga6.0117117.002.83
Imran Ahmed5.001300.002.60
Ahaan Dean2.01623.003.00
nasibullah Maroofkhel2.001300.006.50
Sathishmohan Thonti2.0015115.007.50
Moksudul Islam1.00616.006.00

St Albans Cricket Club Sunday 2nd XI Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
3w 2b  
for 4 wickets
5
169		        
Ashish Dean ct  Cromarty 25 3
Ahaan Dean ct  Waite 18 1
Moksudul Islam ct  S 63 6 3
Sathishmohan Thonti b  Karunakaran 0
Marcus Cunnington Not Out  35 3
Imran Ahmed Not Out  22 5
nasibullah Maroofkhel  
Sulaiman Nisar  
Prath Khatavkar  
Sudhanshu Suryavanshi  
Alexis Awonuga  

Palm Tree XI Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
K. Reeves8.022000.002.50
A. Gallagher5.203500.006.56
C. Waite8.0135135.004.38
M. Cromarty5.0118118.003.60
R. Karunakaran4.0027127.006.75
S4.0033133.008.25