Scorecard

Botany Bay CC 2nd XI v St Albans Cricket Club 4XI on Sat 04 Jul 2026 at 13:00
St Albans Cricket Club Won by 6 wickets

Match report Another warm summer afternoon saw Saints IVs bound for Botany Bay. The effervescence of regular skipper Davey was on duty elsewhere, leaving Walker in charge of a high quality XI in a week with stunning availability.

The pitch looked excellent, the outfield fast and the skies were blue. Nevertheless, when the skipper won the toss he looked at his lineup and elected to bowl first.

Deshpande (1/17), hooping the ball as ever, took an early wicket, and Magee added one too, courtesy of a good grab from Witty. Thereafter, Botany Bay’s Gascoigne started to find the boundary, threatening to take the game away from St Albans, but never quite managing it. Magee, doing the hard work coming up the hill, toiled well for seven overs, 1/20.

Awonuga, in a rare appearance for the IVs, showed excellent control of length in eight immaculate overs that went for less than three an over. Walker had bowled nicely, too, but also went unrewarded. Through this period, batsman Wright lived a rather charmed life, with edges flying past the keeper, catches floating just out of hand and a sharp single that most definitely should have been given run out.

As the partnership neared a century, Botany Bay finally lost their third wicket, Mayet castling Gascoigne. The hosts tried to up the run rate but Saints’ fielding and bowling continued to excel. During two excellent death bowling spells from Mayet and Witty, a couple of crucial wickets fell to stall any momentum. An odd innings, then, with the home side reaching 167 for the loss of just five wickets. It looked like an underwhelming total.

The question was really whether Saints’ batters could put some patchy results behind them and take advantage of a pitch that was ripe for runs.

Roberts started brightly with three crisp boundaries, but fell before he could really get going. Hingston added some flourishes to all-too-brief partnerships with Murray and Witty before he fell for a commanding but ultimately disappointing 44. At 84-4, each of the men dismissed felt they’d left runs out there. Worse, with the top four gone and question marks over the remaining batting lineup, Saints were just half way to their target.

Nair had settled himself in nicely, but it was Awonuga, in at six, that became the game changer, taking three boundaries in an over from White to reverse the momentum. When Awonuga then repelled Botany Bay’s chief bowler, Khan, with a pair of on drives for four, the onlooking Saints sensed that the chase was in control. Youngster Nair was not to be left behind, smashing Khan for a big six over square leg and lacing another seven boundaries. His poise in the circumstances was notable.

When Nair lifted another delivery to the boundary, Saints claimed victory with 12 overs and six wickets in hand, Nair and Awonuga’s unbroken partnership having reached 86 (Nair 45*, Awonuga 39*).

Aside from the quality of the batting on display in that partnership, it had also made it clear that St Albans had set up victory with their efforts in the field: 167 was well below par. Kudos to all of the bowlers and to each of the fielders.

Later, opposition skipper Evans-Bird assessed that his side were maybe 20 runs short - an underestimate if ever there was one. Saints much the better in this battle and the squad returned to Clarence Park with spirits high.

---
An alternative view of proceedings.

With *Sam Davey* absent for the day,
*Andrew Walker* proudly led the way.
He won the toss beneath blue skies,
"We'll field," declared the captain wise.

The Saints took to the field as one,
Their work beginning in the summer sun.
Every shout and every dive,
Kept the contest well alive.

*Prathamesh Deshpande* found his rhythm fast,
His opening spell was built to last.
Two maidens, one wicket, superb control,
A perfect start to the bowlers' role.

*Ryan Magee* followed with craft and care,
Seven fine overs, built to wear.
Just twenty runs and one wicket won,
A superb spell beneath the sun.

*Andrew Walker* led by deed,
Giving his side exactly what they'd need.
Six tight overs, a maiden too,
His calm example carried through.

*Yusuf Mayet* earned reward,
A deserved wicket on the scorecard.
Patient bowling, clever and bright,
Keeping Botany firmly in sight.

*Ethan Witty* joined the attack,
Never taking a backward track.
His wicket came through skill and fight,
Helping keep the target light.

*Andy Saunders* kept things tight,
Working hard from left to right.
Every over played its part,
Showing discipline and heart.

*Alexis Awonuga* bowled with skill,
Keeping the scoring calm and still.
Though wickets didn't come his way,
His spell helped shape the winning day.

Behind them all stood *Sarang Nair*,
Safe with the gloves and always aware.
Every take was neat and clean,
Exactly what a keeper means.

In the field were *Ben Hingston, **Olly Roberts*,
And *Stuart Murray*, giving their best.
Every stop and every chase,
Saving precious runs with pace.

Botany Bay battled hard and long,
Gascoigne and Wright both standing strong.
Yet the Saints refused to bend,
Pressure remained from end to end.

When forty overs reached their close,
The scoreboard finally came to show:
One hundred sixty-seven was all they'd claim,
The Saints were firmly in the game.

Then came the chase with calm belief,
The openers brought early relief.

*Olly Roberts* started bright,
Three crisp boundaries brought delight.

*Ben Hingston* anchored with patient grace,
Forty-four setting the perfect pace.

*Stuart Murray* battled on,
Helping keep the innings strong.

*Ethan Witty* played his role,
Contributing towards the team's great goal.

Then came the partnership none could break,
The stand that sealed the match's fate.

*Sarang Nair* stood calm and tall,
Answering every challenge and call.
Forty-five unbeaten, cool and wise,
A masterclass before our eyes.

Beside him *Alexis Awonuga* stole the show,
Driving with power, timing and flow.
Thirty-nine not out, fearless and free,
A match-winning display for all to see.

The winning runs came with style and ease,
Leaving Botany searching for answers to seize.
One hundred seventy for four was enough,
Built on teamwork, grit and stuff.

So here's to Walker, standing in,
Leading the Saints to another win.
In Sam Davey's place he took command,
Guiding the side with a steady hand.

From Deshpande's accuracy to Magee's control,
From Nair's composure to Alexis' stroll.
From Hingston's anchor to Roberts' attack,
Every Saint ensured there'd be no looking back.

*Fielding first, they set the tone.*
*Together proving they're stronger as one.*
*With ball, with bat, with heart and pride,*
*The Saints marched home in glorious stride.*

Botany Bay CC 2nd XI Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
12w 12b 2lb 
for 5 wickets
26
167 (40.0 overs)		     
Mark McCabe ct  Witty b R Magee 16 33 4 48.48
Hemanth Tummala b  P Deshpande 1 10 10.0
Matt Gascoigne b  Y Mayet 45 76 7 59.21
Rob Wright run out  (Unsure) 57 87 11 1 65.52
Waqar Nawaz ct  Awonuga b E Witty 10 13 1 76.92
Shah Khan Not Out  8 15 53.33
Sam McLean Not Out  4 5 80.0
Charlie White  
Jishnu Chatterji  
Craig Evans-Bird  
George Canty  

St Albans Cricket Club 4XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Prathamesh Deshpande5.0217117.003.40
Ryan Magee7.0120120.002.86
Andrew Walker6.012000.003.33
Alexis Awonuga8.012300.002.88
Andy Saunders5.002800.005.60
Yusuf Mayet5.0023123.004.60
Ethan Witty4.0022122.005.50

St Albans Cricket Club 4XI Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
2nb 10w 4b 1lb 
for 4 wickets
17
170		        
Olly Roberts lbw  S Khan 13 15 3 86.67
Ben Hingston ct  Unsure b A White 44 52 8 84.62
Stuart Murray ct  M Gascoigne b C Evans-Bird 4 12 1 33.33
Ethan Witty ct  C & b C Evans-Bird 8 20 2 40.0 1
Sarang Nair Not Out  45 42 7 1 107.14
Alexis Awonuga Not Out  39 31 8 125.81 1
Andrew Walker  
Andy Saunders  
Prathamesh Deshpande  
Ryan Magee  
Yusuf Mayet  

Botany Bay CC 2nd XI Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Jishnu Chatterji4.003500.008.75
Shah Khan7.0129129.004.14
Craig Evans-Bird8.0135217.504.38
George Canty4.011900.004.75
Charlie White3.0031131.0010.33
Sam McLean2.001600.008.00