St Albans go close against Harpenden

YOUTH CRICKET: IT was a historic moment for St Albans Cricket Club as they fielded their inaugural all girls team in their opening match against Harpenden U9s on Wednesday.

Harpenden batted first and put up a good score of 269-1. St Albans needed only five runs to win off the last two balls, but were denied by a dot ball and a run out.

Molly McGuirk was St Albans’ top scorer and Peggy Sue Mackey and Lucy Wilson played good shots. There were good bowling efforts from Laura Knill-Jones and Rose and Clara Noden.

The U13Bs faced Bushey and, with some controlled bowling and keen fielding, restricted them to 95 off their innings. Pick of the St Albans bowlers were Charlie Walton, Callum Emmerson and Tom Szcech.

St Albans began their innings cautiously with just 16 runs off the first four overs, but with Jack Ypey now seeing the ball well, he hit a quick fire 27, supported well by Freddie Sapone and George Mudd and St Albans reached their target with five balls to spare.

The U11s eight-a-side team recorded their second win of the season against Hatfield Hyde. St Albans batted first and scored 269-5, led by Hashim Awan (23), Daniel Armstrong (9) and Jamie Scragg (8). Hatfield came close but a run out in the last over meant they only finished with 262. Daniel Armstrong, Jaden Solomons and Tom Johnson each took a wicket.

The previous week the two sides had met and St Albans reached a good total of 242-5, with Hashim Awan top scoring (13) supported by Ted Cook (10). Hatfield chased well and had passed the St Albans total until Hashim Awan took a wicket in the last over. Sam Winter and Louis Walter took two wickets, with Telha Turk, Daniel Armstrong and Hashim Awan taking one each, to leave Hatfield on 239-7.

Joe Button was top scorer for the U9s with 17 runs as they made 249-7 against Radlett.

In reply Radlett batted well despite some good St Albans bowling and fielding, notably from Sam Mistry, and got home in the last over to win with 255-5.