St Alabans W.I. CC

Max Bird

With Bob Marley booming out of the radio and dominoes being played next to the pavilion, a little bit of the Caribbean visited Shutts Lane on Sunday. The visitors, a West Indian touring side based in London, certainly created a fantastic atmosphere for the game as the rain kept off.

The Coombe skipper won the toss and decided to field first.

The West Indians started strongly scoring 10 off the first over. Matt Burton then made the break through, trapping Blackwood lbw. That bought in Ramsey who was St Albans’ answer to international Chris Gayle, smashing a quick fire 33 including four 4s and a 6. He was then bowled by A.C.Jeffery. That wicket was an important one as 3 more wickets fell for just 14 runs, leaving the tourists on 98 for 5. This sparked a counter attack, lead by Weeks who went on to score a powerful 50. He retired with 6 overs remaining giving some of the younger members of their team the opportunity to finish the innings off. St Albans posted a total of 195. The pick of the bowlers for Coombe was the ever accurate Jeffery taking 4 wickets for just 13 runs from his 8 overs.

At the break the players enjoyed a tea provided by Mrs Bird, Mrs Mould and Mrs Hewlett. An array of cakes and sandwiches, all eaten before you could shake a stick!

The Coombe players thinking that 196 was a gettable total, but they suffered an early blow, with captain Vaughan lbw for just 10. Another wicket fell before Matt Newman joined Dave Shaw at the crease. Shaw was playing a slightly uncharacteristic innings playing aggressively to reach 32. Jon Burton then joined Matt Newman at the crease and with both of them looking set, Coombe still had a chance of winning, however as Newman fell, Matty Mould came to the crease. He played a sensible 26 and with 6 overs remaining looked to be good enough to get Coombe over the line. But when Burton fell it would be up to the tail to finish of the game. James Wallis fell for a first ball duck and Max Bird was quick to follow, hitting a full toss in the air, was the victim of a fantastic, diving, one handed catch by Flood. Paul Hodgkinson was run out trying to push on but by that point, it was too late. Coombe fell 28 runs short.

Afterwards a BBQ followed kindly put on by Jimmy Hewlett and helpers. With the friendly atmosphere in the air, it was a great end to a great game of cricket. The game, a roaring success in every aspect.

St Albans Coombe Bissett

D.Blackwood lbw b Burton 16 G.E.Vaughan lbw b Flood 10

Stapleton b Newman 28 D.R.Shaw ct Weeks b Stapleton 32

C.Ramsey b Jeffery 33 M.J.Burton lbw b Flood 0

C.Aceysanora b Jeffery 3 M.L.Newman ct Ramsey b Blackwood 29

A.Henry ct Vaughan b Jeffery 6 A.C.Jeffery ct Weeks b Stapleton 8

Walker ct Mould b Jeffery 20 J.Burton lbw b Henry 28

A.Week retired 50 M.J.Mould not out 26

H.Walker ct Vaughan b Burton 14 J.Wallis b Henry 0

D.Y.Weeks not out 9 M.D.D.Bird ct Flood b Blackwood 0

J.Henry b Burton 0 P.J.Hodgkinson run out 1

E.Flood not out 0 N.P.Bird not out 4

Total 195 Total 167

For 8 For 9

Burton 8-1-39-3 Wallis 8-0-48-0 Mould 4-0-30-0 Weeks 7-1-24-1 Flood 5-2-11-1 Aleysanora 8-0-32-0

Newman 8-2-31-1 Jeffery 8-4-13-4 Stapleton 7-1-23-2 Blackwood 5-0-12-2 A.Henry 5-0-15-2

Hodgkinson 4-0-28-0 J.Henry 3-0-27-0

C.Ramsey falls foul to the accurate Ant Jeffery