Rajendra produces Man of the Match performance to turn tie

SHCL Division 1

St Albans 242 Ampthill Town 144

St Albans won by 98 runs

ST ALBANS maintained their early season good form with a resounding 98-run win against Ampthill. However, in blustery conditions the Saints had a choppy start, quickly being reduced to 5-2.

Luke Edwards (55) and Sam Rowlands (38) steadied the ship, putting on 85, before Alex Rajendra scored an explosive 65 from number seven.

In pursuit of 243, Ampthill never had any real momentum as economical opening spells from Martin Jones and Josh Goddard were followed by the devastating duo of James Rosson (2-32) and Rajendra (5-33). Rajendra’s cocktail of flighted off-spin from a good height and a devilish arm ball proved too good for Ampthill as St Albans ran out easy winners.

St Albans II also won 30 points, although only because the pitch for their match against St Albans West Indians at Verulamium was deemed unplayable.

The IIIs came up against a strong Eversholt team, but were still able to cling on for a draw. Eversholt made an imposing 284-2 with the returning Phil Dorsett (2-41) the only Saints bowler to make a breakthrough. And, despite contributions from Michael Eames (35) and John Webber (32), it was left to the unlikely pair of Charlie Smith and JJ Grewal to stave off defeat.

The IVs made it two wins out of three with a three-wicket defeat of Waltham X Rosedale, who were dismissed for 141 by fine seam bowling from Christian Hay (3-17), N. Maltby (2-33) and Andrew Walker (3-44).

The St Albans opening pair of Adam Hounslow (42) and Nick James (42) splayed the Waltham bowling to all parts and, despite a middle-order collapse, 30 in 20 balls from Richard O’Toole saw the Saints safely home.

The Sunday first XI began the season with a four-wicket win in a friendly against Old Albanians.

OAs made 175-8 which included a wicket from 13-year-old Jack Ypey. In reply, agricultural strokeplay from Steve Ferguson (33) and fifties from Sandipan Chanda and Sam Rowlands helped to secure victory with an over to spare.