Saracens Hertfordshire League Division 3 Match Reports

RESULT - Stevenage Lost by 8 wickets

Not content with a relaxing finish to the season over the past month the 2nd XI have decided to take this season to the wire. Again, the batting struggled to exert itself after a decent start between Russell Hann (22) and Gary Brown (24). This time the innings closed on 130 for 6 thanks to Laurie Brown's 14, Steve Cooley's 18no and Adil Zargar's 23no. Zargar's innings was particularly impressive since he was too busy swatting up on the ins and outs of heart surgery to take much notice of the bowlers or pitch conditions.

Letchworth cruised to the victory total for the loss of 2 wickets, one to Paul Berry and one to Cooley. The failure to pick up substantial bonus points left the 2nd XI sweating on relegation but were fortunate to end up 5th from bottom and avoid relegation by 1 place.

MOM: Adil Zargar

RESULT - Stevenage Lost by 5 wickets

A depleted Stevenage side didn't show enough graft with the bat and therefore the total of 140 was not enough to put the home side under significant pressure. This was despite a 51 partnership for the first wicket between Laurie Brown (18) & Russell Hann (23), however, to many of the batsmen fell to catches apparently preferring to go for big shots rather than play the percentages and hit the balls into the gaps along the ground.

Paul Berry was the pick of the bowlers in Stevenage's defence of their total with figures of 17.3 - 3 - 46 - 3, finally getting some reward for some good bowling through the season. This disappointing result, makes next Saturday's final league match vital if Stevenage are not to be sucked into the relegation zone.

MOM: Paul Berry

RESULT - Match Drawn

The 2nd XI hung on for a draw against Chipperfield and were indebted to a couple of tough performances. Firstly, in the field Stevenage's bowlers recovered after the openers made scores of 40 and 54. The initial breakthroughs were made by Simon Roberts and Ashley Bayes, which opened the floodgates for Ian Brown, who returned a second spell of 7 wickets for less than 10 runs to restrict Chipperfield to 180 all out.

Then with the bat Stevenage recovered from the loss of 5 of their top 6 for scores in single figures thanks initially to the tenacity of Barry Turner's 30 and at the end a dogged 17 not out from Ashley Bayes. With the field up and Chipperfield pushing for a win Ian Brown made the most of his few overs at the crease logging the slow bowler for 19 runs, including a very big six and defending the quickie who had an amusingly long run.

MOM: Ian Brown

RESULT - Stevenage Lost by 6 wickets

The 2nd XI's yoyoing season continued with a disappointing defeat to County Hall. Stevenage batted first on a damp wicket and the 3 County Hall bowlers maintained good disciplines by bowling consistently on or just outside off-stump. Only Russell Hann with 26 and a dodgy hamstring of the top 5 batsman made a notable contribution. Hann was indebted to Martin Nevill, who acted as his runner for the best part of his innings and obviously Nevill was taking some mental notes because apart from Simon Roberts (26) he was the only other batsman to make it above 20. Eventually finishing not out on 24 with Stevenage bowled out for 124.

Stevenage's defence of their meagre total was spirited, with Seb Sagnia and Ian Brown (12.4/3/32/1) making the batsmen work hard for their runs, but it was the spin of Steve Cooley (7.3/1/25/2) and Ashley Bayes (4/0/21/1) that got the bulk of the 4 wickets to fall.

MOM: Martin Nevill (partly for being brave enough to act as runner for Russell Hann)

RESULT - Stevenage Won by 7 wickets

This was an unexpectedly easy win for Stevenage 2nds against a side that had regularly totaled between 200 and 250 this season. Things were not looking good when Ian Brown returned from the toss to inform his players that the opposition captain had won the toss and was going to bat, but the expected run riot never materialised. Will Leslie's current run of good form continued with 2 early wickets and figures of 7 overs, 2 wickets for 28 runs and with Brown's 5 wickets for 45 runs from 26.2 overs the visitors score was restircted to a measley 129. Other wicket takers were Paul Berry with 10/1/21/1 and Steve Cooley with 9/1/29/2. The only bleamishes to Stevenage's efforts in the field were the dropping of 3 or 4 catches. The culprits were named and shamed in the bar after the game, but will not be named here because I can only remember one of them and it wouldn't be fair to single anyone out in particular.

When Stevenage batted they also lost both openers cheaply, but there the similarities with the Southgate Adelaide innings ended, because Albert Sodhi & Graeme Duff dispelled any negative thoughts with fifties each. Although Duff (55) was out near the target, the home side won with 20 overs to spare and Albert Sodhi 53no; which will go a long way to cementing his place at the top of the 2nd XIs batting averages above the second placed "batsman".

MOM: Ian Brown

RESULT - Stevenage lost by 106 runs

Stevenage had a very poor day and as such match details are being kept to a minimum. Bushy won the toss and batted on a very hot day and made the most of it racking up 259 for 7, thanks largely to a late innings blitz resulting in over 50 runs being scored from the last 3 overs, the bowlers of which will remain unnamed. Will Leslie was the pick of the bowlers taking 3 for 39 from 14 overs.

Faced with a daunting total and no doubt suffering from the heat, the Stevenage innings never got close. Albert Sodhi top scored with 38 and Leslie completed a decent performance with 28 runs late in the order, but nobody else made a significant contribution.

MOM: Will Leslie

RESULT - Stevenage Won by 43 runs

Stevenage bounced back from last weeks defeat with a much improved performance. All of the top five batsman contributed with Russell Hann (45), Andy Burroughes (24), Albert Sodhi (27), Barry Turner (50) and Graeme Duff (40). There is little more detail that can be added to the description of Stevenage's innings which finally ended on 211 for 6, although Turner's journey from the wicket to the changing room on his dismissal was said to be an entertaining one.

Stevenage's bowling effort was dominated by 2 bowlers, Ian Brown and Ashley Bayes. Bayes got through 14 overs for 49 runs and took the wicket of Welwyn's main batsman, but the undoubted star of the show was Brown who returned his best ever figures of 16.4 overs, 5 maidens, 9 wickets for 39 runs, with six of the wickets being clean bowled.

MOM: Ian Brown

RESULT - Stevenage lost by 5 wickets

A disappointing batting display from Stevenage meant defeat was all but a foregone conclusion. Only Russell Hann (22), Albert Sodhi (13) and Barry Turner (28) reached double figures in an all out total of 109

Stevenage put up a fight thanks mainly to the bowling of Ian Brown who took 3 wickets for 34 from 17 overs, but with a run out and only Paul Berry of the bowlers taking another wicket (1 for 27 from 9) Stevenage suffered a 5 wicket defeat. It shouldn't go without mention that Hann bowled the last 3 balls of the innings; what we should make of it, who knows? But it certainly shouldn't go without mention.

MOM: Ian Brown

RESULT - Match Drawn

It was a bore draw weekend for the 1st and 2nd XI, as the 2nd XI like the 1sts made all the running only to be thwarted by some unadventerous, down right boring opposition. On a slow wicket and outfield, Stevenage were indebted to a class 64 from Albert Sodhi and solid contributions from Barry Turner (34) and Russell Hann (40) taking the final total to 198 for 8.

All of Cottereds top order got to double figures, but none were able to go any further and their chase was effectively halted by the appearance of Little at the wicket who scored the grand total of 17 runs in almost twice as many overs. All of the Stevenage bowlers returned tidy figures, Ashley Bayes (11/3/22/0), Simon Roberts (4/1/10/0), Paul Berry (8/2/27/1), the golden arms of Will Leslie and Sebastian Sagniar claimed 2 wickets each from 7/2/21 and 4/1/6 respectively and Ian Brown produced the best figures completing 13 overs, for 20 runs and 3 wickets with 6 maidens. In fact the most exciting incident in the Cottered innings was when Little manhandled an amused and bemused Russell Hann having taken offence at a passing comment made by Hann about how Little's batting prowess had apparently declined with age.

MOM: Albert Sodhi

RESULT - Stevenage Lost by 4 wickets

Stevange lost a strangely subdued contest with local rivals Knebworth. For Stevenage, Russell Hann (56) and Barry Turner (38) had put the visitors in a strong position at 116 for 1, but a middle order collapse meant that a total of 196 was the best that could be achieved and this never looked like being enough. Stevenage did manage to take six wickets in reply and this performance showed the great strides the team have made since the start of the season.

MOM:Russell Hann

RESULT - Match Drawn

This was a game that revolved around rain, wickets, one liners and slippers and that isn't slippers as in slip fielders, but slippers, as in pipe and slippers.

To start at the beginning Redbourn won the toss and elected to field but, with some very very light drizzle; a kind of mizzle if you will; in the air, the Redbourn captain; shod in a pair of comfortable looking slippers; persuaded Stevenage's Ian Brown to delay the start until the atmosphere was drier. So, much to the suprise of Stevenage's opening batsmen, who had been happily knocking up on the outfield, the start of the match was delayed for sometime. When eventually the game did get underway Albert Sodhi, Barry Turner and Graeme Duff were dissmissed for a total of 5 runs between them. Simon Roberts with 15 help repaired a bit of the damage in partnership with Russell Hann who made an invaluable 42. The only other scores in double figures were 10 from Martin Nevill and 17 from Will Leslie batting at 9 and 16n.o from Paul Berry batting at 11. These contributions allowed Stevenage to get to 137 in 46 overs and left Redbourn wondering if they would rue the late start to the game.

Over tea Hann happened upon the Redbourn captain and apologised for not having his slippers ready for him, but that Redbourn's changing room had been locked. While this harmless quip amused Hann's teammates, the Redbourn captain was less enamoured and the two parted company shortly after the cake tray. Back on the pitch Stevenage opened with Ian Brown and Will Leslie the two most successful bowlers this season and the decision was a good one with both taking early wickets, Brown with 20/6/49/3 and Leslie 7.5/2/18/2. However, an unbeaten 6th wicket partnership dragged the game back Redbourn's way and with just 22 runs needed in 13 overs victory was well within their sights, when the heavens opened. The Stevenage players strolled off the pitch grinning and the cover was placed on the wicket to enable a swift resumption when the rain ceased. With 5 or so of the remaining overs lost the rain became lighter and was really only a kind of mizzle when the Redbourn players suggested a resumption. Unsuprisingly this suggestion was frowned upon by the Stevenage players who took the unanimous view that play really ought not start until there was no rain in the air at all. Unfortunately, this wasn't the case until all but 2 overs worth of time in the game remained and the cover was still to be removed, so it was decided that the match should be declared a draw. During the traditional handshakes, Hann, as is his wont, took great pleasure in the opportunity to remind the Redbourn captain that perhaps if hadn't been strolling around in his slippers at the start of the game Redbourn would have won the game some time ago and that as such they had effectively got what they deserved out of the game. This became a somewhat terse conversation that was broken up by Stevenage's Captain, Brown, who by means of a light-hearted explanation in a subsequent conversation with the Redbourn captain, indicated that Mr Hann had a tendancy to wind up quite a few teams that gave him any reason and that if Redbourn had thus far survived such an encounter they should count themselves lucky and effectively not rise to what was some harmless baiting.

MOM:Russell Hann, for his runs in this match, as well as his interpersonal skills and his faultless running between the wickets at all times, but particularly last year

RESULT - Stevenage won by 27 runs

On a very good batting track Stevenage's batsmen prospered, with Gary Brown (100) leading the way with his maiden 2nd XI league century. Gary sporting a new haircut and resembling a Bosnian War child refugee put on a substantial opening stand with Russell Hann (47) which was added to by middle order contributions from stand in wicket keeper Barry Turner, Graeme Duff and most significantly Albert Sodhi with 37. Ian Brown eventually declaring the innings on 259 for 5 giving his team a valuable 2 extra overs at the Wormley batsmen.

The chase by Wormley was a brave one, centered around the hundred scored by Steve March, the dismissal of who caused the game to lurch from a friendly, close fought affair to an unpleasent conclusion. Stevenage's bowlers were always in the game despite the big hundered thanks to regular wickets at the other end. Will Leslie picked up the first and while Sebastian Sagnia found the going tough in his first game for Stevenage he will no doubt be an asset to the Club in future games as he never once tried to "hide" in the field or indeed off it, when, on attempting to throw the ball back on the field from behind the metal sight screen he launched it into the structure creating a bang loud enough to be mistaken for a grenade going off. Ian Brown capped a good day for the Brown's as he picked up 5 wickets, Simon Roberts took 1 wickets in support and Steve Cooley chipped in with 3 important dismissals one of which came courtesy of a run.. I mean.. stumping for Barry Turner, who also completed 4 catches in a very successful debut behind the stumps. This win the 3rd in the last 4 games propelled the 2nd XI into the top half of the table and ensures confidence remains high.

MOM: Gary Brown

RESULT - Stevenage won by 3 wickets

In a closely fought battle Stevenage eventually came out on top thanks to an allround team effort. After a steady start with the ball the Stevenage bowlers were put to the sword for a time by a strong 3rd wicket partnership and with opening bowler Paul Berry retiring from the field with a slipped disc, things were looking gloomy. However, for every cloud there is apparently a silver lining and in this instance it was the re-emergence of Simon Roberts as a Saturday league bowler. Roberts had put in some good spells in early season Sunday games, but had been surplus to requirements so far in a 2nd XI. Nevertheless his first bowl yielded 3 wickets from his 12 overs and in combination with a 5 wicket haul for Ian Brown was instrumental in restricting Botany Bay to 211.

The Stevenage reply was characterised by solid contributions by all of the top 6, the highest scorers of which were Barry Turner (48), Graeme Duff (33), Hann (31) and Sodhi (30). With 12 needed from 2 overs the game was still in the balance, but Roberts launched a 6 over midwicket in the last over to leave 2 runs needed, only to be run out next ball, leaving Steve Cooley and Will Leslie to scamper the winning runs from the penultimate ball of an engrossing match.

MOM: Simon Roberts

RESULT - Stevenage lost by 34 runs

A good all round effort in the field left Stevenage with an achievable victory target of 175. Brown and Zargar picked up 2 wickets each and Will Leslie continued his good form with the ball taking 3 wickets. The other wicket to fall was taken by Ashley Bayes, who was on the eve of his Hertfordshire debut.

Despite the early loss of Albert Sodhi a good stand between Russell Hann (30) and Barry Turner (29) put Stevenage back on track. However, Hann went in the hamstring and shortly afterwards both Hann and Turner were dismissed. Graeme Duff came to the crease and batted well as chaos reigned around him, with the next 5 batsmen all being dismissed for single figures. Duff eventually departed for 28 and only a 31 run last wicket partnership between Bayes (15) and Brown (14no) delayed the disappointing defeat.

MOM: Russell Hann (For a combination of getting the top score and getting angry)

RESULT - Stevenage Won by 52 runs

The successful 100 run opening partnership of Stevenage's Saturday was shared between Albert Sodhi and Russell Hann batting first against fellow promoted team Potters Bar. The stand totaled 167 before Hann fell for 72. Sodhi continued into the 90s and was eventually dismissed for 99 unselfishly going for quick runs for the team rather than playing it safe and completing what would have been a deserved 100. The Stevenage total eventually closed on 197 as the middle order batters found it hard to follow such a great partnership.

With a solid total to defend a strong bowling line-up proved to good for Potters Bar, with Giajendran Sarubakkaathan (known for everyone's sanity as Darren) bowling short sharp spells and picking up 4 wickets ably supported by Ian Brown's 3 wickets and one a piece for Ashley Bayes, Will Leslie and Adil Zargar. Stevenage running out comfortable winners with 5 overs and 52 runs to spare. So comfortable in fact that Barry "tubby" Turner found time to partake of an Andy Armstrong barbequed burger while patroling the outfield.

MOM: Albert Sodhi

RESULT - Stevenage Lost by 5 wickets

The 2nd XI are still finding their feet in Division 3 and while key players are showing glimpses of form, things have yet to come properly together. Batting first the top 3 all got starts with Russell Hann top scoring with 30, but the experienced middle order did not contribute and despite some useful contributions from the lower middle order the innings slowly stagnated, closing on 145 for 9.

A good opening partnership for the visitors put them in what proved to be an unassailable position, even though the Stevenage bowlers showed good fight in taking five wickets before their total was passed.

MOM: not sure, although I understand that Ian Wilson did an excellent job of the umpiring

RESULT - Match Drawn

Is it possible that Ian Brown is going soft in his middle age? I ask because he allowed himself to be persuaded by a bunch of soft batsmen to bowl first because the wicket looked a bit green and it might dry out a bit later on and get easier to bat on. As it was Stevenage bowled first and mustered 6 wickets, Ian Brown picking up 1, Will Leslie 3, marking a successful debut with the ball and fellow debutant Adil Zagar 2 wickets.

In reply to the total of 196 for 6 Stevenage made 167 for 8, with the pick of the batsmen Albert Sodhi (40) and wicketkeeper/forgotten batsman Martin Nevill (40no).

MOM: Martin Nevill