Scorecard

St Albans Cricket Club Sunday 2nd XI v Saints CC on Sun 11 May 2025 at 1pm
St Albans Cricket Club Lost

Match report This weekend brought with it the second instalment of the now annual ‘Saints Derby’. Our mighty Sunday 2XI played host to Saints CC, a London based club who boast one half of Tom Hadden’s dual cricket club affiliations. The traitor himself skippered the oppo today, and saw his London Saints bat first while St Albans skipper Nauman ‘Manny’ Nisar took his side to the field.

We opened with the combined might of Jamie Telkman and Sunday ringer ‘Samad’ Khan, the perfect combination of experience and speed. Telkman struck the first blow, dismissing an opener while at the Pavilion end Samad set about his demolition job from the pavilion end bowling full fast and straight he picked up 3 wickets in just first spell of 6 overs. We then treated the oppo to a Witty masterclass, sending father-son duo James and Ethan into the fray. Both bowled tidy spells, like their predecessors, but only James found true reward wicket-wise, claiming one while Ethan mostly bowled tight lines, but seemingly to the liking of the batters, whose confidence was increasing with every shot.

The oppo were beginning to amass a frightening total, with one batter bludgeoning a century amidst a couple of 50s, but never fear: Suleiman ‘Suli’ Nisar and Dulon Ahmed stepped up to steady the ship. Again, both lads bowled commendably, but the batters were in fine touch at this point. Samad then stepped up to try his hand, and by Jove did he try his hand. Seemingly unplayable bowling from Samad saw him claim a whopping 7 wickets over his 8 over spell, while conceding only 15 runs. Absolutely brilliant Samad!

Tea came and went, and our Saints took to the task of chasing an intimidating score of 244. A tall order, but perfectly within our locker (or so we thought).

Manny and Peter Melling began their innings, both looking in fine form, Manny dispatching the seldom bad deliveries and Peter executing the most attractive cover drive known to man. The pair would eventually fall, Manny on 19 and Peter on 22: much needed runs in a run chase like this.

The youth contingent was up next but seemingly for a limited time only. Ethan came and went, scoring 4 but having various lovely shots go unrewarded before seeing our own Hadden claim his wicket, while Suli faced one singular delivery and nicking off immediately. He did, however, have the nerve to tell everyone that the noise was in fact not his bat, but rather his helmet. Many looks of confusion and requests for elaboration were exchanged, but the matter remains a point of contention for Suli. The rest of us feel all right about it though.

Our high scorers were next on the menu: Ben ‘Biceps’ Hingston and Andy Melling. Biceps wasted little time, blocking his first ball and promptly pumping the next one past the bowler for four, the power in the shot scaring players and passers by alike. Melling was overall more circumspect, but showed a similar level of aggression in a variety of his shots to the boundary. Biceps later found himself caught after refusing to flex said bicep for the team (#karma) and departed on a brutally-made 45, while Melling stuck around long enough to notch 57. Again, crucial scores when chasing a total like 244.

The rest of our bats came and went with little fuss, bar Telkman who played an excellent spell, amassing a regal 33 before falling victim to a sharp stumping. In the end, St Albans were left wanting and 40 runs short of the target.

Overall, a lovely day with lovely weather and a great opposition, Hadden notwithstanding. Everyone played their part and we look forward to eventually claiming revenge in this fixture next year.

Fineable Moments:

Tom Hadden for his aforementioned wandering eye when it comes to cricket clubs.

Suli for having the gall to claim a very clear edge was in fact a noise made by his helmet.

Walsh for falling off the top of the CP gate the night before, spraining both wrists and leaving St Albans one short at one point.

Andy Melling for, despite the above as context, asked injured Walsh to umpire upon arrival to spectate.

Manny for, despite the above as context, asking Walsh to write this report without a functioning wrist.

Match Report by Ciaran Walsh

St Albans Cricket Club Sunday 2nd XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
2nb 5w 9b 2lb 
for 10 wickets
18
205		        
Nauman Nisar Bowled  19
Peter Melling Bowled  22
Ethan Witty Caught  4
Sulaiman Nisar Caught  0
Ben Hingston Caught  45
Andrew Melling Bowled  57
Dulon Ahmed Caught  1
Jamie Telkman Stumped  33
Imran Ahmed Stumped  4
James Witty Not Out  0
A.N. Other Bowled  2

Saints CC Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Saints CC Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
7nb 3b 3lb 
for 9 wickets
13
244 (39.5 overs)		     
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

St Albans Cricket Club Sunday 2nd XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Jamie Telkman8.0043143.005.37
Imran Ahmed8.004400.005.50
Ethan Witty5.004800.009.60
James Witty4.0134134.008.50
Sulaiman Nisar4.003700.009.25
Dulon Ahmed3.001700.005.67
A.N. Other7.531572.141.91