Stevenage were inserted by Chorleywood on a decent pitch, but one which offered a bit of help to the seamers early on thanks to mixed weather during the week. Opening the batting with his 3rd partner of the season, David Carr dug in for a tenacious fifty, his third of the season and was well supported until 34 was on the board by Captain Del Armitage (11). Further handy partnerships were shared with Irfan Bhatti (23) and Aamir Ahktar (19), before Carr departed for 66 just after Lunch. This left two of Stevenage's form batsmen at the wicket, Barry Turner and Andy Armstrong, the former making a fluent and chanceless 51 not out and the latter 18 runs. Turners 50 was his first for the 1st XI and he continues to grow into his role in the middle of Stevenage's middle order. Some madcap running and selfless batting by Baker and Beer ensured that Stevenage topped the 200, making 205 for 8.
In reply Chorleywood were scuppered from the outset as Stevenage's bowlers and fielders flew out of the blocks. Ahktar picked up both openers caught behind and at first slip by the time 5 runs were on the board and at the other end Ahzar Ali wheeled
away spinning the ball prodigiously and with good control, to dismiss the middle and lower order. Ali eventually picked up five wickets. The other wickets to fall were taken by Bhatti who picked up the wicket of the Aussie for 43 and Neil Beer who
ended the stubborn resistance of the number 7. However, one wicket remained to be taken and despite a massive, confident, no doubt about it, appeal for a catch by Beer at point off the bowling of Ali the final winning wicket was never taken. So Chorleywood,
remain at the bottom of the league and despite having been outplayed all day walked away with an undeserved draw which still leaves the league positions very tight.
MoM - The Team
This is the halfway stage of the season so subsequent match reports will be on the other 1st XI Match Report page.
Stevnage Innings
D.Carr cgt Wedlake b Watson 66
D.Armitage b Wedlake 11
G.Duff b Russell 0
I.Bhatti b Russell 23
A.Ahktar cgt Hall b Watson 19
B.Turner not out 51
A.Armstrong cgt and bowled b Watson 18
I.Baker run out 6
N.Beer run out 1
A.Ali not out 1
R.Hamilton did not bat
Extras 10
TOTAL 203 for 8 in 60 overs
Wedlake 11 - 5 - 33 - 1
Russell 30 - 5 - 91 - 2
N.Rice 3 - 1 - 17 - 0
D.Watson 16 - 3 - 57 - 3
Chorleywood Innings
Horne cgt Bhatti b Ahktar 3
Roundell cgt Armstrong b Ahktar 0
Bone LBW b Ali 18
Wedlake cgt Armstrong b Bhatti 43
Hall cgt Hamilton b Ali 4
Downing b Ali 2
Hatteea b Beer 9
Watson not out 14
Watson b Ali 5
A.Ali cgt Baker b Ali 4
R.Hamilton not out 0
Extras 12
TOTAL 114 for 8 in 50 overs
A.Ali 21 - 13 - 32 - 5
A.Ahktar 11 - 3 - 34 - 2
I.Bhatti 9 - 4 - 18 - 1
N.Beer 9 - 4 - 21 - 1
Stevenage were inserted on a very green wicket. This proved the perfect conditions for the home bowlers to exploit and they did so with aplomb, making batting very difficult and runs hard to come by. At lunch the visitors had lost six wickets for 62 and the game was basically over. The sun gradually removed the greenness and batting became easier, but a useful stand of 55 by top scorer Barry Turner (41) and skipper Del Armitage (30) for the 7th wicket was a good effort, with runs coming more freely against the spinners. Turner in particular enjoyed the bowling of Frazer; ***********************************; taking 17 runs from one over. Stevenage eventually totalled 153.
Following ext(p)ensive consultations with the Club's lawyer Waldorf P. Flywheel of the London Law Firm
Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel an edit was recommended and has been made to this match report. Stevenage Cricket Club wish to assure players whether from outside the club (in which case, what on earth are you doing reading another club's match reports, you must have better things to do, although you're of course more than welcome) or indeed
within the club that all descriptions in the match reports are made in good heart, with the aim of inducing a smile. Therefore, exagerations (and spelling mistakes) will abound and the truth be stretched (most usually in relation to the quality of Carr's innings). Therefore, if anyone finds any comments on this website relating to themselves, their collegues, friends, lovers, husbands, wives,
or pets in the least offensive, please make your feelings known and they will be respected.
Welwyn are high flying with confidence at the moment and are well clear at the top of the table, so their batsmen ripped into Stevenages opening attack of Ali and to a lesser extent Ahktar, although when all was done, nobody was spared as they knocked off the runs in 22.2 overs. The only time they looked in trouble was
when Irfan Bhatti had the new ball, which removed both openers, but by then the score was in the 50s.
MoM - Barry Turner
Stevnage Innings
D.Carr b Walls 6
I.Baker lbw b Murch 11
A.Ahktar b Murch 0
I.Bhatti lbw b Frazer 21
G.Duff run out 1
B.Turner st Pearman b Bridgewater 41
N.Beer lbw b Tamblyn 6
D.Armitage ct Skeggs b Murch 30
A.Ali b Bridgewater 13
J.Parchment lbw b Skeggs 6
R.Hamilton not out 1
Extras 17
TOTAL 153 all out in 58.4 overs
J.Murch 22.4 - 6 - 50 - 3
K.Walls 10 - 1 - 17 - 1
B.Frazer 14 - 6 - 34 - 1
B.Tamblyn 7 - 4 - 16 - 1
S.Bridgewater 4 - 0 - 19 - 2
A.Skeggs 1 - 0 - 4 - 1
Welwyn Garden City Innings
M.James ct Carr b Bhatti 38
S.Page ct Carr b Bhatti 16
B.Frazer not out 68
A.Skeggs not out 14
Extras 19
TOTAL 155 for 2 wickets in 22.4 overs
A.Ali 7 - 1 - 36 - 0
A.Ahktar 6 - 0 - 24 - 0
I.Bhatti 7.4 - 1 - 55 - 2
J.Parchment 2 - 0 - 35 - 0
Stevenage won the toss and batted on a excellent wicket and although there were early scares it was Millhillians who played out the last three overs for a hard fought draw. Earlier Andy Armstrong (77) had rescued the home side from a disappointing 105 for 5 despite a 40 from Aamir Ahktar. Armstrong was well supported by Neil Beer (16) who in turn was well supported by a merry band of travelling supporters, including numerous family members and what may well have been a whole shift from the John Lewis Partnership. The Armstrong/Beer partnership yeilded 64 for the 7th wicket to turn the match around.
When Millhillians batted they got off to a flyer being at one stage 118 for 2, but enter Ahzar Ali. Ali's spin wizardry conjured up a Stevenage revival "just like that!", which was aided by some quality catching. Ali finished
with another 5 wicket haul and the visitors ended on 153 for 9, stubbonly refusing to succumb to defeat. A much better performance by Stevenage than in recent weeks. Hopefully they have turned the tide.
MoM - Andy Armstrong/Ahzar Ali
Stevnage Innings
D.Carr Ct Spencer B Webster 0
I.Baker Lbw B Webb 9
A.Ahktar Ct Blincoe B Davis 43
I.Bhatti Ct Webster B Spencer 25
B.Turner Ct Webb B Davis 11
G.Duff B Blincoe 28
A.Armstrong Run out 77
N.Beer Ct Smith B Jones 16
D.Armitage Ct Hellings B Webster 8
A.Ali Run out 1
J.Parchment Not out 1
Extras 16
Total 235 for allout in 59.2 overs
A.Webster 15 2 62 2
M.Webb 8 2 26 1
L.Davis 10 2 51 2
B.Spencer 8 1 18 1
A.Blancoe 13.2 4 45 1
C.Jones 5 1 25 1
Millhillian's Innings
L.Davis ct Carr b.Ali 51
J.Goldbeck Ct Turner B. Ali 19
M.Brandon b. Bhatti 26
C.Jones Ct Parchment B. Ali 34
M.Stein Ct Bhatti B. Ali 0
B.Spencer Ct Carr B. Bhatti 0
C.Hellings Not out 13
A.Webster Ct Bhatti B. Ahktar 0
J.Smith B. Ahktar 1
A.Blancoe Lbw B. Ali 0
M.Webb Not out 0
Extras 9
Total 153 for 6 in 60 overs
A.Ali 22 6 51 5
N.Beer 6 1 31 0
I.Bhatti 15 3 48 2
J.Parchment 3 0 14 0
A.Ahktar 4 2 7 2
Stevenage secured a hard earned draw with a good performance at Potters Bar. The home side won the toss and elected to bat on a flat but slow wicket, no doubt relying on their strong bowling attack (ex. England and Essex seamer Mark Illot, Herts County seamer Cooper and Middlesex U18 left arm spinner Barker) to fire out the Stevenage batters. Potters Bar batted well until lunch against a swinging ball bowled by Irfan Bhatti and Jason Parchment. Although both picked up wickets, Bhatti thanks to a first class slip catch from the Baker and Parchment thanks to an inswinging yorkerthat cannoned into the off-stump, the run rate was around 5 an over for most of the first session. The introduction of Neil Beer, who bowled hard and was the only one to extract seam movement all day and the left arm spin of Ahzar Ali slowed the run rate 30mins before Lunch and they continued after the break. The maintenance of good line and length and movement from these two ensured wickets were collected regularly, with Ali (6 for 72) being the main beneficiary. In fact it was only a hard hitting 34 from Illot down the order that allowed Potters Bar to reach a decent total of 219 all out.
In reply the home side opened up with Illot with the old ball and
veteren left arm spinner McGee and soon had Stevenage in trouble at 36 for 2. But Carr, who started fluently, counterattacked and looked to dominate all of the bowlers, finding some solid support from Bhatti, who himself started to open up as Tea approached. However, the loss of Bhatti
for 23 with the score on 79 in the over before Tea, proved to be the telling blow. After the break Carr continued where he'd left off and found good company in Armstrong, who played some quality shots before holing out for 21 in the deep with the score on 152. In this period the new ball was taken
with Illot returning to the attack, with Cooper. Whilst Carr hit Cooper out of the attack in 4 overs, Illot got revenge trapping him LBW for 93 leaving Ali and Beer to ensure a draw was acheived.
MoM - David Carr
Potters Bar Innings
M.Palmer B Parchment 11
A.Norman Ct.Baker B Bhatti 24
J.Norman B.Beer 66
P.J.Pass Ct Beer b.Ali 34
O.Coughlan St. Carr B Ali 39
M.Taylor Lbw Ali 0
T.Coughlan Run out 2
M.Illott B Ali 34
L.Cooper St Carr B Ali 0
P.Barker Not out 1
P.Mcgee B Ali 0
Extras 8
Total 219 for 6 in 59.4 overs
I.Bhatti 17 2 70 1
J.Parchment 5 0 30 1
N.Beer 13 2 43 1
A.Ali 24 6 72 6
Stevenage Innings
D.Carr Lbw B Illott 93
I.Baker Ct Pass B mcgee 5
B.Turner Ct Taylor B Mcgee 5
N.Bhatti Ct Illott B Mcgee 23
A.Armstrong B Illott 21
G.Duff Ct Coughlan B Mcgee 1
A.Ali Not out 10
N.Beer Not out 1
Extras 9
Total 168 for 6 in 56 overs
M.Illott 15 4 32 2
P.Mcgee 24 5 80 4
P.Barker 13 3 34 0
L.Cooper 4 0 20 0
Stevenage fielded two new players for the visit of St. Albans, but although both performed well, the team still cannot find a winning formula going down to the visitors by 48 runs, when losing two wickets in the last over.
Arfan Bhatti opened the bowling with good pace and beat the bat numerous times on an good batting wicket after the visitors had won the toss and elected to bat. His final returns of 3 for 37 was a good effort and on another day could get double that tally.
Azhar Ali took a bit of time to settle with his left arm spinners, but also showed enough to conclude he'll have his day. However it was with the bat that they both showed they would be two good all rounders. Bhatti, coming with a good reputation with the bat,
was run out going for a third run when he looked in total control and just getting going. Ali who batted sensibly for 47 no out should probably bat higher in the future. At the end of the day St. Albans' target wasn't beyond the home side, six players got into
double figures without running on. More determination is required to get over this sticky spell
M o m Steve Welch (groundsman)
St Albans Innings
J.Holt Ct. Armstrong B Beer 34
I.Curtis Lbw Bhatti 13
N.Gilbert Ct Turner B Bhatti 1
S.White Ct Armstrong B Bhatti 59
R.Gill Ct Bhatti B Ali 2
P.Caley Ct Duff B Ali 94
J.Shaw Not out 13
Extras 23
Total 239 for 6 in 53.2 overs
I.Bhatti 13 4 37 3
J.Parchment 9 0 51 0
A.Ali 18.2 3 70 2
N.Beer 7 1 42 1
R.Hamilton 6 0 24 0
Stevenage Innings
D.Carr B Holt 25
I.Baker Ct White B Holt 19
B.Turner Ct Caley b. Dattanni 24
I.Bhatti Run out 23
G.Duff Ct Chaudhry B Shaw 13
N.Beer Lbw White 9
D.Armitage Ct Chaudhry B Shaw 0
A.Ali Not out 47
A.Armstrong B Holt 5
J.Parchment St Sandford b White 4
R.Hamilton Lbw White 0
Extras 22
Total 191 all out in 55.5 overs
S.White 14.4 2 52 3
A.Green 5 2 8 0
J.Holt 11 3 46 3
J.Chaudhry 4 1 11 0
J.Shaw 11 4 21 2
A.Dattanni 10 1 38 1
Stevenage won the toss and chose to field first, but unfortunately were made to suffer under the sun on an otherwise beautiful summers day. The opening bowlers acquitted themselves well, with Neil Beer on debut returning an unflattering 1 for 64 from 15 overs and Jason Parchment 1 for 25 from 9 overs. Richard Hamilton picked up a wicket and Naseer Ahmed 2 wickets, but shortly after lunch the batsmen let loose and with a combination of good destructive batting and a bit of luck the daunting total of 280 for 6 was achieved.
In reply Stevenage were in a comfortable position with 50 on the board for 1 wicket, Ahmed (57) was setting about the bowling with relish, however at the loss of the second wicket, any momentum was lost and wickets fell steadily as the run rate required rocketed. Only Baker with 43n.o
showed any significant resistance and the tail collapsed alarmingly in what was a poor effort.
M o m Nasser Ahmed
St Margaretsbury Innings
B.O'Shea Run out 42
G.Tilbury Ct Ahmed b.Parchment 7
T.Benham Lbw Hamilton 17
S.Williams b.Ahmed 47
T.Anstead Not out 48
A.Anstead Ct Baker b Ahmed 66
B.Wallis Ct & b Beer 0
M.Brown Not out 34
Extras 19
Total 280 for 6 in 58 overs
J.Parchment 9 2 25 1
N.Beer 15 3 64 1
N.Ahmed 19 4 76 2
R.Hamilton 13 2 75 1
M.Sinclair 2 0 21 0
Stevenage Innings
D.Carr Lbw O'Shea 19
G.Duff B Pedder 5
N.Ahmed Ct Wallis b Tilbury 57
N.Beer B Tilbury 8
B.Turner CT Wallis b Anstead 20
I.Baker Not out 43
D.Armitage Ct Wallis b Anstead 0
M.Sinclair B Anstead 0
A.Armstrong ctAnstead(N)b Anstead(A)8
J.Parchment ct & b Anstead 0
R.Hamilton Run out 0
Extras 6
Total 154 all out in 49 overs
M.Brown 13 5 30 0
D.Pedder 5 0 26 1
B.O'Shea 12 3 38 1
G.Tilbury 7 0 27 2
M.Fisher 7 2 17 0
A.Anstead 5 2 10 5
Stevenage got off to the worst possible start after being inserted by visitors Hoddesdon. On a damp wicket the first 6 wickets went for only 15 runs against good tight visitors bowlers who contrary to some reports were in general not helped by poor shot selections. You needed "Atherton" type concentration and application and a bit of luck, but unfortunately instead of playing and missing, more often than not a thin edge was found. However, Stevenage bat all the way down the order and with skipper Del Armitage joined the evergreen Ian Baker and they added 80 for the 7th wicket to reach a total of 126 and provide a sniff of a chance.
While the total gave the home supporters a chance to see Nasser Ahmed bowl some Trevor Scott Hibbert style spin (albeit right arm off-spin) the total was never going to be enough. Bowling his 15 overs for just 16 runs Naseer was the pick of the bowlers, although 2 wickets on debut for
Jason Parchment Snr was hopefully promise of more to follow. The end was a tame affair with Hoddesdon creeping over the line with 18 overs to spare.
M o m - Del Armitage
Stevenage Innings
D.Carr Ct. Moton b.Savanhu 0
G.Duff Ct.Morton b.Savanhu 5
N.Ahmed b.Hurst 3
B.Turner Ct.Hales b.Savanhu 2
M.Upalakarem b.Hurst 0
I.Baker b.Hurst 43
A.Ahktar Lbw Savanhu 2
D.Armitage b.Hurst 54
J.Parchment Lbw Hurst 1
A.Armstrong Lbw Savanhu 1
M.Sinclair Not out 10
Extras 5
Total 126 for 10 in 51.5 overs
T.Savanhu 19 6 39 5
J.Hurst 17.5 6 37 5
M.Feely 5 1 16 0
D.Hughes 7 1 22 0
R.Bryne 3 1 6 0
Hoddesdon Innings
A.Lee b.Parchment 34
T.Morton Lbw Ahkter 7
I.Munday Lbw Ahmed 4
D.Hughes b.Parchment 31
S.Coleman Not out 23
J.Pinkett Not out 5
Extras 24
Total 128 for 4 in 40 overs
A.Ahktar 9 2 39 1
N.Ahmed 15 8 16 1
M.Sinclair 5 0 19 0
J.Parchment 11 2 43 2
The first 1st XI home league fixture was rained off without a ball being bowled. But the visitors made themselves at home in the kitchen and enjoyed bacon sandwiches being wandering off into the Old Town to watch the FA Cup Final. It was a blessing in disguise for Duffers who could watch his beloved Southampton in said final.... but then again they lost, so perhaps it was a case of the blessing that was in disguise being a curse that was disguised as a blessing in disguise.
Hertford batted first and made a positive start against decent opening spells by Louis Bullock and Aamir Ahktar, reaching 76 without loss. The introduction of Richard Hamilton's left arm spin in tandem with the off-breaks of Naseer Ahmed literally turned the game on its head. Hamilton induced Cavaner to drill a sharp catch to David Carr fielding at mid-wicket and from then on wickets fell regularly and the runs dried up. Hamilton picked up a further 5 wickets included the entire top 4, to end with figures of 25/4/68/6 and Ahmed chipped in with 21/5/66/3 to restrict Hertford to 195 for 9 off 60 overs.
In reply a 2nd wicket stand of 123 runs between David Carr (88) and Naseer Ahmed (58) put Stevenage in a strong position and with Aamir Ahktar compiling 30 Stevenage reached the victory total with approximately 20 minutes of play remaining.
Hertford Innings
R. Carter ct Ahktar b Hamilton 52
C. Cavener ct Carr b Hamilton 36
M. Griggs b Hamilton 29
A. Moulding ct Ahktar b Hamilton 14
S. Watson ct Baker b Ahmed 5
R. Hall LBW b Hamilton 0
R. Cordingly cght and bwld Ahmed 24
C. Box stmpd Armstrong b Ahmed 0
J. Ryan not out 14
B. Poulton b Hamilton
D. Stevenson not out 2
Extras 13
Total 195 for 9 in 60 overs
L. Bullock 5 - 0 - 26 - 0
A. Ahktar 9 - 1 - 26 - 0
R. Hamilton 25 - 4 - 68 - 6
N. Ahmed 21 - 5 - 66 - 3
Stevenage Innings
D.Carr ct Watson b Box 88
G. Duff b Cordingly 3
N. Ahmed ct Moulding b Hall 58
B. Turner LBW b Hall 0
A. Ahktar b Ryan 30
A. Armstrong not out 3
I. Baker not out 0
Extras 15
Total 196 for 5 in 54 overs
J.Ryan 15.5 - 5 - 36 - 1
R.Cordingley 11 - 2 - 42 - 1
C.Box 16 - 1 - 67 -1
R.Hall 9 - 1 - 27 - 2
R.Carter 3 - 0 - 13 - 0