Scorecard

St Albans Cricket Club 5XI v Baldock CC 2nd XI on Sat 09 May 2026 at 13:00
St Albans Cricket Club Won by 4 wickets

Match report Finally the wait is over and the cricket league season has started. It was a beautiful sunny day, perfect for cricket, and the opposition was a strong Baldock CC 2nd XI side. Saints 5XI also handed debuts to Yasser Afghen and Ubed Talha.

Skipper Imran lost the toss and Baldock elected to bat first — probably what Saints would have done as well, considering the team looked more batting-heavy than bowling-heavy, and historically 5XI have had more success chasing than setting targets.

The opening bowling pair for Saints were the experienced James Witty and talented Thomas Couling. Both started brilliantly and Baldock’s openers looked uncomfortable from the start. It was Thomas Couling who made the breakthrough for Saints, with a sharp catch at point taken by last season’s 5XI Player of the Year, Mostafa Alahi.

Baldock’s second wicket partnership started to build nicely and looked threatening, so skipper Imran brought himself on as first change and didn’t have to wait long for success, taking a caught-and-bowled wicket himself. At the other end, Tom Dalkin started a little shakily with a few waist-high full tosses, but quickly got back into rhythm and bowled their number 4 batsman for 4.

At drinks Baldock were 78-4. After the break, debutant Ubed Talha got his first chance with the ball for Saints. Ubed bowled well and was unlucky not to pick up wickets, with a few chances going down in the field. Unfortunately, Saints’ fielding wasn’t sharp enough and Baldock took full advantage, building a dangerous partnership. At the other end, evergreen Aussie leg-spinner Fin McNab also bowled well without much luck.

Baldock’s 5th wicket partnership added 112 runs and at one stage looked set to push past 250 — a very difficult target even on the batting-friendly Sandpit Lane Astro. However, James Witty, Thomas Couling and Tom Dalkin returned superbly in the final overs and kept things under control as Baldock finished on 214 after 40 overs, with their captain Ian Williams unbeaten on 65*.

At half-time, Saints skipper Imran’s message was loud and clear: although Baldock had scored slightly more than expected, the total was definitely chaseable if Saints batted sensibly and used the full 40 overs.

Saints opened with experienced James Grant and talented Praveen Kumar. Both looked comfortable early on, but unfortunately Praveen was run out for 1. Number 3 batter for Saints Hugo Thomas walked in and immediately looked calm, confident and hungry for runs, playing some beautiful shots from the start. However, at the other end James Grant threw away his wicket with a rushed shot and was out for 5.

That brought debutant Yasser Afghen to the crease. Yasser looked promising and struck a lovely cover drive for four, but unfortunately it wasn’t his day as he fell for 8 attempting a pull shot. Saints were struggling at 37-3 after 8 overs.

Last season’s Player of the Year Mostafa Alahi joined Hugo and both batters looked in great touch, adding a useful partnership before an unfortunate run out. Hugo mistimed a lofted shot which should have been a simple catch, but the fielder dropped it. Mostafa, thinking the catch had been taken, stopped halfway down the pitch and was run out after the ball was returned quickly to the bowler. Poor cricket all around, but luckily for Saints, Hugo survived — and from that moment promised himself he would make full use of the chance.

Skipper Imran joined Hugo with Saints in trouble at 79-4 after 14.3 overs. Imran came out in an attacking mood, believing attack was the best form of defence, and immediately launched two huge sixes. By drinks Saints had reached 136-4, with the pair adding 57 runs in just 5.3 overs, while Hugo had already reached his first fifty of the season.

After drinks, Baldock sensed the game slipping away and brought back their strike bowlers, but Hugo and Imran had other ideas. Knowing there were plenty of overs left, the pair stayed calm and focused on taking the game deep. Imran settled down after the break and even showed some textbook defensive batting rarely seen at Sandpit Lane Astro!

The partnership crossed 100 runs before Imran eventually lost patience, dancing down the wicket to the left-arm spinner he had respected for so long, only to be stumped for a well-made 44.

Thomas Couling joined Hugo and added another useful partnership before being caught for 12. Fin McNab then came to the crease with Saints entering the tense final overs.

The 38th over was a maiden and suddenly Saints needed 14 from 12 balls, with Hugo stranded on 94*. Hugo knew he had to finish the job and when he reached his century he barely celebrated — completely focused on winning the match for Saints. A true team player and a class act.

Going into the final over Saints needed 10 from 6 balls, with Fin on strike. Under huge pressure, Fin stayed calm and used all his experience to rotate the strike back to Hugo. Baldock pushed every fielder to the boundary, but Hugo still managed to find the rope with a shot that nearly went for six.

Now 5 needed from 4 balls. Hugo took a single to give Fin the strike again, showing great trust in his partner. Fin responded brilliantly, once again finding the gap and getting Hugo back on strike.

Then came the winning moment.

With 3 needed from 2 balls, Hugo gave himself room and smashed the next ball for four. Saints won by 4 wickets in an unbelievable game of cricket, with Hugo Thomas finishing on a magnificent 106*.

It was a complete team effort with every player giving 100%. After the match both teams shook hands and shared friendly conversations. Even in tense moments throughout the game, both sides stayed calm and showed true sportsmanship. Hopefully all our opponents this season carry themselves like the Baldock lads did today.

Player of the Match: Undoubtedly Hugo Thomas — 106*.

(Last time someone scored a century for 5XI, he never played for 5XI again… so if history repeats itself, all the best to Hugo from the entire 5XI family. We are sure you’ll do well wherever you play!)

Top Performances:• Hugo Thomas – 106*• Imran – 44 & 2-25• Thomas Couling – 46-1• Tom Dalkin – 39-1• James Witty – 8 overs, 0-32

Areas to Improve:• Fielding — we gave away 37 extras, which is not acceptable.• Intensity in the field — need more energy and commitment when attacking catches and stopping runs.

Baldock CC 2nd XI Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
7nb 19w 7b 1lb 
for 5 wickets
34
214 (40.0 overs)		     
Ranjit Rayat b  I Ahmed 22 62 2 35.48
Kevin Shinner ct  M Fazle Alahi b T Coulling 3 5 60.0
Tariq Hasan ct  I Ahmed b I Ahmed 22 38 4 57.89
Sandeep Singh b  T Dalkins 4 16 25.00
Vamsidharreddy Iragamreddy run out  (Unsure) 48 61 6 78.69
Ian Williams Not Out  65 54 10 1 120.37
Matthew Eastgate Not Out  16 11 2 1 145.45
James Adams  
Pradeep Dinesh Fernando  
Rulan Kotecha  
Vineeth Yezzu  

St Albans Cricket Club 5XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
James Witty8.003200.004.00
Thomas Coulling8.0046146.005.75
Imran Ahmed8.0025212.503.12
Tom Dalkins7.0139139.005.57
Fin McNab4.002000.005.00
Ubed Talha4.003000.007.50
Praveen Kumar1.001400.0014.00

St Albans Cricket Club 5XI Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
3nb 18w 3b 1lb 
for 6 wickets
25
216		        
Praveen Kumar run out  (Unsure) 1 6 16.67
James Grant b  M Eastgate 5 9 1 55.56
Hugo Thomas Not Out  106 100 15 106.00
Yasser Afghen ct  V Yezzu b V Yezzu 8 12 1 66.67
Mostufa Fazle Alahi run out  (Unsure) 14 24 3 58.33 1
Imran Ahmed st  I Williams b R Kotecha 42 57 4 2 73.68 1
Thomas Coulling ct  V Yezzu b J Adams 12 23 1 52.17
Fin McNab Not Out  3 12 25.00
James Witty  
Tom Dalkins  
Ubed Talha  

Baldock CC 2nd XI Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Vineeth Yezzu8.0045145.005.63
Matthew Eastgate8.0332132.004.00
James Adams7.0052152.007.43
Pradeep Dinesh Fernando7.514900.006.26
Rulan Kotecha8.0124124.003.00
Sandeep Singh1.001000.0010.00