SHL Division 2 Old Albanian 103 lost to Cockfosters 200-7 by 97 runs OLD Albanian struggled as they visited one of the form teams in Division Two, Cockfosters. Three weeks is a long time in cricket when OA were top of the table but a succession of injuri

SHL Division 2

Old Albanian 103 lost to Cockfosters 200-7 by 97 runs

OLD Albanian struggled as they visited one of the form teams in Division Two, Cockfosters.

Three weeks is a long time in cricket when OA were top of the table but a succession of injuries to key players has seen the batting form collapse.

Despite the re-emergence of Martin Prentice, OA were no match for a highly-charged Cockfosters side who gained maximum batting points off the last ball of the innings for the loss of seven wickets.

Alastair Jones and Tom Preest were the pick of the OA bowlers both picking up two wickets. In reply only Jones (31) and Todd Baines (30) showed any kind of form with bat as the visitors were bowled out for 103 with 19 overs to spare.

IT was a bad weekend for OA II as well as they were beaten by Knebworth Park III with over 30 overs to spare.

OA won the toss and chose to bat in dry conditions after midweek rain.

The batting fallibility shown by OA in previous weeks reappeared starkly after captain Andrew McCree chose to take first use of the wicket after winning the toss. Against accurate bowling on a wicket which offered some help to the bowlers, supported by reliable catching and good ground fielding, none of the OA batsmen suggested permanence or was able to score freely.

After three wickets fell with the score on eight, only Richardson (14), McCree (12) and Burman (20) reached double figures and the entire innings produced only 83 runs. Chaudhary (4-30) and Thorn (3-9) were the pick of the visitors' bowlers.

In contrast, Knebworth showed the necessary application against steady bowling and an unbroken stand of 46 for the third wicket between Pickering (29no) and Wright (30no) saw the visitors home with over 30 overs to spare.

THERE was better news for OA III as they recorded a good win over Cheshunt II.

OA inserted the visitors on a very green wicket as a result of the midweek rain.

Chris Jukes was the pick of the OA bowlers as he made the most from the green top ending with figures of 3-12. In reply OA set about the modest total of 132 and made easy work losing only three wickets. Terry Hassan (29) and Raja Khan (33) saw OA home with 14 overs to spare.

A MIDDLE order collapse by the OA IV batsmen proved costly as they were beaten by two wickets by Met Police Bushey III.

The Met Police won the toss and elected to bowl on the artificial wicket at Woollams. The choice seemed correct as the bowling of Stuart Ross was devastating during his first spell of 11 overs (5-22). The main resistance during this spell was opening batsman Naran Jagatia(30).

However, once he fell, the middle order collapsed leaving the captain Neil Gibson and number nine Rahul Thaker to take on the bowling after only 26 overs. Uncharacteristically, Neil (57) stayed at the crease for a further 20 overs forming a partnership of 98 with Rahul (28no). This was achieved despite the captain requiring a runner (Akshay Pindoria) after pulling a muscle early in the partnership. The OA IVs ended the innings with a total of 192-8.

Met Police responded in a measured fashion with three of their batsmen getting 30 runs or more. Despite the efforts of Naran (4-47) and David Hughes (3-61) the batting was too strong for the bowling attack with Met Police getting over the line with the first ball of the final over. Stuart Ross (35), Vivek Pathak (40) and C Gumsley (30) contributed to the final total of 194-8.

OA Sunday XI's first Chess Valley Sunday League encounter of 2009 against Leverstock Green was called off late on Saturday night apparently due to a number of players suffering sun stroke during the match that day.

On Sunday, the attendees at the annual OA Garden Party at Woollams will be entertained by OA's first XI as they look to take maximum points from their next Chess Valley League game against Hertford.