Flawless bowling display guides OAs past Broxbourne

Naseer Ahmed produced a superb bowling display to guide Old Albanians to a four-wicket win over Broxbourne in Saracens Herts Division One.

Ahmed had the new ball singing on the Woollams Playing Fields pitch as he took two early wickets to reduce Broxbourne to 16-2 after the visitors had opted to bat first. First, he trapped Alexander O’Sullivan in front for eight and then forced a caught from Robin Glassberg.

They were the only wickets Ahmed took but Broxbourne struggled against him for his nine overs, scoring 34 runs at less than four an over and giving up four maidens.

His efforts saw Broxbourne bowled out for 112, a total OAs easily chased down.

He wasn’t the only bowler to frustrate Broxbourne, though.

Moz Hayat gave up just 16 runs for two wickets from nine overs and Ahsan Ali finished with figures of 2-19 from his eight overs. Sagir Ahmed came in to dismiss the tail and did it superbly, taking a three-fer in four overs.

Chasing a modest target, Old Albanians made light work of the victory. After losing Usman Farooq Malik for nine, Alex Goldstone and Zahid Khan put 52 runs on the board.

Mohammed Haroon hit a 31-ball 20 after Khan was caught and bowled by Steve Humphries for 34 to put OAs on the cusp of victory.

Broxbourne managed to take another wicket but there was little they could do to prevent Hayat and Jack Reynolds surpassing their target in the 32nd over.