Division One St Albans 230-4 (51) Berkhamsted 187-9 (49) ST Albans dominated a drawn match with Berkhamsted but frustratingly were one wicket away from victory at Clarence Park on Saturday. The Saints won the toss and elected to bat, Ian McKinlay

Division One

St Albans 230-4 (51) Berkhamsted 187-9 (49)

ST Albans dominated a drawn match with Berkhamsted but frustratingly were one wicket away from victory at Clarence Park on Saturday.

The Saints won the toss and elected to bat, Ian McKinlay and Ed Hart starting well for Saints, putting on 50 for the first wicket. When wickets fell, St Albans continued to build good partnerships with Yasir Arafat (75) and Sam Rowlands (36 not out). Some lusty blows from Martin Jones then allowed an early declaration on 230-4.

Berkhamsted started well but pressure grew as the run rate grew. Club stalwart Richard O'Toole bowled a long spell of 17-3-60-0 and wickets fell at the other end Martin Jones (2 for 15), Ian Curtis (3 for 40), James Goodwin (2 for 22), Yasir Arafat (2 for 40). Unfortunately St Albans could not remove the last Dunstable wicket and had to settle for a high scoring draw. St Albans stay one point off the second promotion spot in Division One with two games remaining. On Saturday Saints face Dunstable at Clarence Park.

In Division Seven of the Saracens Herts League, St Albans III took on Tewin at home looking for a win to maintain their promotion challenge.

Tewin won the toss and chose to bat first but were held up by good bowling backed up by fine fielding. The visitors were restricted to 115 all out. Guy Black picked up 5 for 29 off 17.3 overs and Sam Pullan claimed two wickets. Waheed Ahmed and Sayf-Ali Khan also bowled superbly and claimed a wicket each.

In reply, St Albans edged to victory but not without tension as they lost nine wickets finishing on 119 off 49 overs. James Giffen (39), Michael Eames (34) and Ahmed (23 not out) saw the Saints home.

St Albans held their Annual Presidents Day on Sunday at Clarence Park. The Presidents XI had their usual strong side including a plethora of Test, County and Minor County cricketers. They took on two club sides, one over 30, the other under 30. In a turn up for the books the young side took a clean sweep of the day with some excellent batting from Jones, Goddard and Arafat and some excellent bowling, especially from Shaw. The Under 30s set the tone with an exceptional level of fielding and running that sent a serious lesson to the older members of the club, showing the future at Clarence Park is clearly bright.