RESULT - MATCH DRAWN
While England and Australia played out a thrilling tied match in the NatWest Series final at Lords and millions watched the Live8 concerts Stevenage's 1st XI were engaged in an ultimately frustrating war of attrition at Potters Bar.
In humid, overcast conditions, Stevenage were asked to bat first and made good progress from the start with all of the top three making useful contributions. Mushty Rehman continued his good form in his role as opener with 42 and his opening partner
David Carr struck an assured 57. With both openers back in the pavilion and the score on 132 the Stevenage middle order looked to take the game away from their hosts in a hurry but while the run rate was healthy wickets fell regularly.
Syed Ali Kazmi, batting at three, compiled a patient 66 and was the one constant for Stevenage in this period of positive batting, but his dismissal with the score on 234 enabled Potters Bar to restore some control on what was
a fairly lifeless wicket and restrict Stevenage to 246 for 8.
On a wicket that was offering little seam movement and apart from out of the bowlers footmarks only slow spin, Stevenage set reasonably attacking fields for the pace of Gareth Berg and spin of Azhar Ali. The two bowled with great control and with
neither of the opening batsmen willing to take the attack to Stevenage, the Potters Bar innings was in danger of stagnating from very early on. Ali eventually picked up the first wicket from an edge caught by wicket keeper Carr and for a brief spell
Potters Bar showed some aggression in the form of their number 3. However, Ali dismissed him thanks to a good catch in the deep by Gary Brown and followed it up fairly quickly with another wicket, this time with the help of a catch by John Mould who was making
his 1st XI debut. For all but the last ten overs of the game Stevenage employed spinners and with close catchers in the opportunity was there for Potters Bar to chase the total set. Unfortunately an absence of ambition from the batsmen and two more wickets,
one to Ali Kazmi and a first wicket in 1st XI league cricket for Ashley Bayes saw the game drifting towards a tame end. There was one last attempt by Stevenage to force a victory as the new ball was given to Berg. He ran in hard and made life uncomfortable
for the lower order after dismissing the Potters Bar captain caught behind, but at the close Potters Bar were 166 for the loss of 6 wickets, meaning Stevenage had to be content with a draw and 12 points.
Man of the Match - Syed Ali Kazmi
Small Warm-Up T-Shirt Forfeit - Barry Turner - the greatest short leg in the world
detailed scorecards available on Stevenage Play Cricket Site
RESULT - MATCH DRAWN
Stevenage took on St Margaretsbury under leaden skies that were in sharp contrast to the bright sunshine of the previous weekends
that had brought such good victories, but unfortunately the Stevenage performance was in keeping with the overcast conditions. Stevenage won the toss and elected to bowl hoping to make use of the bowling friendly conditions
and to be fair it almost paid off in spectacular fashion. Faisal Yasin bowled the first ball of the day which crashed into the pad of St Margaretsbury's New Zealand opening batsman in front of off-stump as he offered no shot,
but the ferocious appeal was turned down. Then with the score still on nought Gary Brown bowling for the first time in the 1st XI trapped the other opener bang in front of all stumps to dismiss him LBW with his first ball.
Yasin followed up Brown's wicket with a second early breakthrough to leave St Margaretsbury on 33 for 2, but success after that was a long time coming. The New Zealand opener rode his luck all day being dropped in the outfield
twice and surviving a number of run out opportunities and slices of good fortune with inside edges before eventually falling for 93 stumped by David Carr off Azhar Ali. The Stevenage fielding, both ground fielding and catching
was poor all innings and despite two wickets for Syed Ali Kazmi, the visitors total reached 222 some 50-60 runs more than they should have been allowed to achieve.
Stevenage's reply again started badly as they struggle to settle on a regular opening partner with Ur Rehman. Carr falling early this time to the outswing of M.Brown. Ur Rehman, however, continued his good run of form making
53 with a mix of big hits and solid defence. He was offered little support, though, as numbers 3, 4 and 5 were dismissed for 13 between them and with Rehman removed with the score on 72 for 5 the situation was looking precarious.
The sixth and seventh wicket partnerships of 31 and 61 restored some pride to the Stevenage effort and for a while put Stevenage back in with a chance of victory. However the run out of Ashley Bayes, who was looking comfortable
and then the loss of Yasin for 65 with the score on 164 effectively ended Stevenage's run chase. The visitors kept pushing hard for a win as they are fighting it out in the bottom third of the table and it took an innings of
considerable testicular fortitude from Graeme Duff (10no) batting at the unaccustomed number 10 spot to ensure Stevenage saved the game.
Man of the Match - not awarded
Small Warm-Up T-Shirt Forfeit - Naseer Ahmed
detailed scorecards available on Stevenage Play Cricket Site
RESULT - STEVENAGE WON BY 190 RUNS
Stevenage 1st XI entertained their Knebworth counterparts on a roasting hot summer's Saturday that brought out the crowds and the best in Stevenage. The match sponsored by SCC
Vice President Ron Davies went Stevenage's way from the toss, with Knebworth's captain calling wrong and allowing Barry Turner to put Stevenage into the bat.
Knebworth had battled manfully in the field through the hottest part of the day but their batters were hopelessly outclassed from the moment their opening batsman was run out for 4, with the total on 13. Berg (7/1/22/2)
charged in from the packed pavilion end of the ground and worked the top order over with a hostile spell of old ball bowling earning a snick to the wicket keeper, David Carr, followed shortly afterward by another to Ahmed at first slip.
With Ali plying his left arm spinners trade at the other end there was never any release for the batsman and his dismissal of Knebworth's Aussie bowled through the gate left them floundering on 15 for 4.
Ali picked up a further two wickets before the tea break, as did seam bowler Yasin who presented Carr with two more catches, leaving the visitors stranded on 33 for 8 at Tea.
There was little delay to proceedings after the break although McCrow made it to double figures before Ali had him caught at slip by Ahmed to finish with 11/6/19/4. The final wicket was claimed by Yasin who completed an excellent all
round performance ending with figures of 4.1/1/10/3 and taking Stevenage to victory by a massive 190 run margin. This 3rd consecutive victory means the Stevenage leapfrog Knebworth into third position in the Home Counties Regional
Premier League, with a home fixture at Ditchmore Lane this coming Saturday against St Margaretsbury.
Small Warm-Up T-Shirt Forfeit - not awarded
detailed scorecards available on Stevenage Play Cricket Site
RESULT - STEVENAGE WON BY 111 RUNS
Stevenage travelled to Langlebury, on the back of their resounding victory the week before, with high hopes of a repeat performance against a team struggling to find their form.
Stevenage's captain the Garrards sponsored Barry Turner continued his fine form at the toss, winning for the fourth time in five attempts and choosing to bat first on a good wicket with a bit pace about it.
Langlebury boast an impressive triumvirate of opening bowlers, consisting of Bedfordshire's and Ireland's Patterson, the 6ft 6inch England U16 bowler Steve Finn, who made his first class debut for Middlesex against
Cambridge University earlier this year and former Hertfordshire stalwart O'Reilly, so the Stevenage openers were tested to the maximum against the new ball. With Ur Rehman at one end and Hertfordshire's U17 opener Gary Brown
at the other Stevenage survived a torrid opening and reached 55 before Brown departed for 17 and Rehman followed shortly afterwards for 40. The middle part of Stevenage's innings was dominated by Syed Ali Kazmi who shared in
brisk partnerships with Naseer Ahmed (18), Gareth Berg (10) and Graeme Duff (14) to take the total towards the 200 mark. Kazmi was finally dismissed for 69 trying to push the score on in partnership with Stevenage's other
Hertfordshire U17 batsman Ashley Bayes. But where Kazmi failed, Bayes succeeded playing a range of fine strokes around the ground in quick time to finish on 22 not out and boost the score to 217 for 8. Stevenage's defence
of their score began well, with Berg(11/1/33/2) steaming in and out pacing Langlebury's bowlers with the old ball in his hand. He soon burst through the defences of the Langelbury's numbers 2 and 3 clean bowling one off-stump
and the other middle stump. In fact by tea the home side had been reduced to 50 for 5 thanks to Azhar Ali(19.5/6/51/6) removing the rest of the top five with his impeccable left arm spin. For a short period after tea the brakes
were put on Stevenage's seemingly inevitable roll to victory with a 43 run partnership. However, a very professional fielding display yielding a fine catch by Duff and a run out by Berg, combined with some inventive bowling and
fielding ploys prompted a second collapse resulting in Langlebury being dismissed for 106 inside 40 overs.
Small Warm-Up T-Shirt Forfeit - Faisal Yasin, for an excellent allround performance
detailed scorecards available on Stevenage Play Cricket Site
RESULT - STEVENAGE WON BY 7 WICKETS
Stevenage 1st XI maintained their 100% home record for the CCS Home Counties Premier League season with an emphatic 7 wicket victory over Hemel Hempstead.
Having won the toss Stevenage asked Hemel to bat and for the first hour and a half a hard fought battle between bat and ball ensued. Faisal Yasin and Gareth Berg, Stevenage's two new ball bowlers,
bowled with great control and no little aggression but were thwarted by a gutsy opening partnership of 39. Berg eventually lured a Hemel opener into an injudicious drive outside the off stump and was rewarded by the ball cannoning off
his inside edge into the middle stump. Yasin at the other end beat the bat with regularity extracting exaggerated seam movement and can count himself incredibly unlucky that he did not take a wicket from his 13 overs.
The second wicket was not taken until the score had reached 92, but from that point onwards Stevenage took wickets at regular intervals as the spinners, Syed Ali Kazmi and Azhar Ali, chipped away at the middle order.
Ali finished the game with figures of 19/2/56/3 and Kazmi claimed 5 wickets for 40 runs from 16 overs, both being responsible for the dramatic collapse of the Hemel innings from 157 for 4 to 173 all out. In an otherwise mediocre fielding
display wicket keeper David Carr prospered from the spinners skills completing 3 stumpings and Gary Brown plucked a high quality catch out of the air on the long off boundary.
Despite the early loss of one of their opening batsmen Stevenage put their batting worries of the previous few weeks behind them and chased down the Hemel total with considerable ease. Rehman completed his first half century for the club,
making 60 and taking a particularly heavy toll on the Hemel spinners and he was well supported by Kazmi who made 45 to complete an excellent all round performance. Stevenage claimed victory with 13 overs of the match; sponsored by ESP (UK) Limited;
to spare with Naseer Ahmed (40 not out) and Berg (24 not out) at the wicket.
Small Warm-Up T-Shirt Forfeit - the ocularly challenged Graeme Duff
detailed scorecards available on Stevenage Play Cricket Site
RESULT - Stevenage Lost by 8 wickets
Stevenage produced a poor batting performance on a poor wicket at West Herts. Having lost the toss Stevenage were asked to bat first and
those that viewed the wicket before the game completely misjudged what they were looking at. Early batsmen were dismissed playing aggresive shots with visions of a score well over 200 runs
and didn't re-assess the situation early enough against the accurate and patient bowlers. At lunch Stevenage were in the perilous position of 67 for 7 from 34.1 overs and a total under 100 was looking possible.
It took a club record (HCPCL) ninth wicket stand of 46 between David Carr and Faisal Yasin to bring a degree of respectability to the total, with Carr finishing unbeaten on 33 not out The West Herts batsmen knew
their home wicket and could also not have failed to learn from the unsuccessful approach taken by Stevenage and with better running and shot selection they strolled to an eight wicket victory.
Small Warm-Up T-Shirt Forfeit - far too many candidates to decide on just one.
detailed scorecards available on Stevenage Play Cricket Site
RESULT - Stevenage Lost by 18 runs
Despite a solid all round team performance Stevenage narrowly lost their clash with Radlett. Barry Tuner (sponsored by Garrards) won the toss for Stevenage and as in the first week backed his
batsmen to chase down whatever score Radlett posted on a good batting wicket. Radlett made a solid start and 90 without loss looked well placed to score in excess of 250. Eventually with the score on 93 Syed Ali Kazmi struck with two wickets in consecutive deliveries. Kazmi's confidence grew
from there on and in combination with Gareth Berg he dragged the match back in Stevenage's favour. Kazmi finished with 4 for 64 from 22 overs and Berg with 3 for 44 from 16 overs. Berg also excelled in the field, completing a stunning left handed catch to dismiss, caught and bowled, Steven Lowe
who was the pick of Radlett's batsmen. He also had a hand in the run out of the Radlett skipper, although his average throw was made to look superb by the lightening quick hands of wicketkeeper David Carr. The Radlett innings eventually slowed to a stop at 198 for 8, probably 40 or 50 shy of what Radlett
would have originally hoped.
Stevenage faced a tough start in their reply, coming up against South African Shane Burger of the Gaueteng/Highveld Strikers Cricket Club and Radlett stalwart Stewart Browne. Browne removed Gary Brown early, but despite some early pace Burger was wicket less in his first two short spells, which included a
a firery exchange with Carr, who took on Burger's bouncers and hooked and pulled the quick bowler for back to back boundaries. Carr eventually fell to a diving catch in the covers for 17 off the third change bowler as Radlett chopped and changed their bowlers with some regularity and success. Kazmi joined Carr back in
the pavilion for 17 as Radlett continued to hold all of the sharp chances offered them in the field. With the score on 106 for 3, thanks to good contributions from Naseer Ahmed and Gareth Berg Stevenage looked to be cruising to victory, but the loss of Ahmed (37) and Berg (27) in quick succession turned the game once more.
A virtuoso innings from Graeme Duff (30) looked to have done just about enough to if not win the game for Stevenage, at least salvage a draw, but Burger returned to blast out not only Duff, but Faisal Yasin and Azhar Ali to leave a very assured Ashley Bayes unbeaten on 13 and Stevenage 18 runs adrift of victory and 6 balls from a draw.
Small Warm-Up T-Shirt (for the Sawbo Game) Forfeit - Barry Turner.
detailed scorecards available on Stevenage Play Cricket Site
RESULT - STEVENAGE WON BY 5 WICKETS
A TITANIC STRUGGLE BETWEEN TWO OF THE LEAGUES TOP SIDES LEAVES WELWYN GC WITH A SINKING FEELING AFTER COMING UP AGAINST STEVENAGE'S NEW ICE BERG.
New Stevenage skipper Barry Turner got off to a flying start. The home side defeating one of the pre-season league favourites; Welwyn Garden City; in the first IC3 League Match.
Turner (sponsored by Garrards) won a crucial toss on a day destined to be disturbed early on by hail and rain storms. Play was initially held up after only two balls, due to one such heavy shower. However, after a couple more breaks for rain, which
required much cover placement and removal, and yielded a Laurel and Hardy interlude involving Albert Sodhi, David Carr and Turner the match was reduced to 88 overs (48 to Welwyn GC and 40 to Stevenage).
In reply Stevenage lost two vital wickets early. Last season's top batsmen Syed Kazmi & Naseer Ahmed falling to the accuracy of Herts bowler, Simon White. The home side struggled at 15 for 2 off 7 overs.
The thrid wicket partnership between local boys 16 year old County youth player Gary Brown and the now veteran old boy Albert Sodhi (29) added 62 valuable runs in 21 overs and provided a decent base to launch the run chase, with Stevenage requiring 84 runs off 12 overs with 6 wickets in hand.
Small Warm-Up T-Shirt (for the Radlett Game) Forfeit - Mustafeez Ur Rehmann. Reason - Tardiness.
detailed scorecards available on Stevenage Play Cricket Site
STEVENAGE 1ST XI vs St Margaretsbury 1st XI
STEVENAGE 1ST XI vs Knebworth 1st XI
The crowd at Stevenage swelled through the
morning and those that missed the first half hour missed out on a lot of action. Opening batsman Ur Rehman was not phased by the early loss of his partner and launched the Knebworth attack to every corner
of the ground as he raced to his half century in 48 balls & 53 mins. He eventually departed, bowled by Fisher, for 74 with the score on 92 for 3. Gareth Berg was the next Stevenage batsman to take up the
mantle racing to 25 in a 37 run partnership with Naseer Ahmed, as the Knebworth fielders cooked in the outfield. Only a middle order collapse just before lunch slowed Stevenage's progress, which was so serene
for most of the morning that a total of 300 looked likely. The presence of Ahmed (76) at the other end to the falling wickets took the total to the brink of 200, before the supporters were treated to a second
display of big hitting, this time undertaken by Faisal Yasin, Stevenage's number 9. Yasin finished 41 not out and in partnership with Ahzar Ali put on an unbeaten last wicket stand of 53 leaving Knebworth a daunting 247 to win.
Man of the Match - Faisal Yasin
Langlebury 1st XI vs STEVENAGE 1ST XI
Man of the Match - Azhar Ali
STEVENAGE 1ST XI vs Hemel Hempstead 1st XI
Man of the Match - Syed Ali Kazmi
West Herts 1st XI vs STEVENAGE 1ST XI
Man of the Match - not awarded
Radlett 1st XI vs STEVENAGE 1ST XI
Man of the Match - Syed Ali Kazmi
STEVENAGE 1ST XI vs Welwyn Garden City 1st XI
When play was in full flow, Stevenage new ball
attack of Faisal Yasin & Gareth Berg put in an excellent spell reducing the visitors to 52 for 5 in 27 overs. Yasin benefited from bowling with the wind initially and looked a far better bowler than last season, now that he seems to have got over elbow problems.
Berg, began his spell into a strong wind and while he bowled well was limited by the conditions. With the switch of ends though, Berg, a South African, now resident in this country, came into his own and will be a hand full on harder wickets. Yasin picked up the first 3 wickets
and Berg the following 4, in a total of 3 spells. Supported by spin of Azhar Ali this trio will test the best in the league. The other support bowlers looked short of match practice and this allowed Welwyn to respond in a positive manner and required Stevenage to be on top of
their game all the time as the visitors accrued a very challenging total.
With the loss of Brown for 39, enter the ice cool Berg, a headline writers dream, at least for the first week.
Showing true pedigree he totally dominated proceedings. Always in control the challenge never looked in doubt. A lesson for all watching in shot selection and running between the wickets. He was ably supported by Turner, who hit a large straight six over the sightscreens at the New Town end. With four runs require of the last
over Berg took a two from the first ball and then slammed a four through the on-side to bring up his 50 and take Stevenage to victory with 4 balls to spare.
Man of the Match - Gareth Berg / Match Sponsor - Greene King
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