ST ALBANS salvaged a draw against third-placed Totteridge Millhillians on Saturday to keep their league survival on pace.
The Clarence Park side are bottom of the top division at the moment, one point off Langleybury who sit one place higher, so every point is crucial. And thanks to some conservative batting they were able to pick up seven valuable points.
Bowling first, St Albans were made to wait for the breakthrough as the Totteridge openers, Steve Selwood and Justin Le Fort, saw off the new ball and continued to score runs freely.
By the time Gareth Oakley dismissed Selwood, the opener had amassed 114 runs in 94 balls, hitting 18 fours in the process. Le Fort followed Selwood’s lead, scoring 66 runs before he was stumped by Sandipan Chanda off Jim Chaudry’s bowling.
The runs continued to flow for the visitors as Shrutarth Rajani and Adil Raza complied 31 and 39, respectively to help Totteridge reach 292 off their 49 overs.
Chaudry topped the bowling figures with 4-88 while Oakley bagged a three-wicket haul.
St Albans’ reply started disastrously with Matt Howeson (4), Sam Rowlands (3), Mo Manzoor (4), Chanda (3) and Ian McKinlay (8) all departed without troubling Totteridge’s total.
Opener Martin Jones steadied the ship, putting an industrious 27 runs on the board during an extended spell in the middle before he was clean bowled.
Falling further behind the run rate, James Rosson put his team in position to draw the game, spending nearly an hour at the crease.
Chaudry followed his lead, scoring an unbeaten 27 from 88 balls as St Albans reached 128-8 in 51 overs to earn some much-needed points.
• The seconds (267-7) drew with Ampthill (216-8). Chris Hodges top scored with 81, but Mike Curtis was not far behind with 73. Adam Hounslow added another 34. Charlie Smith (3-34) topped the bowling figures.
• The thirds (164-8) lost to Hexton (165-3) by seven wickets. Manny Nisar (46) top scored for St Albans and Jack Ypey took two wickets.
• The fourths (182-9) drew with Shenley 3s (189-5). BB Abdullah took three wickets before Nick James (60) and Zach West (38) starred with the bat.
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