Match reports

Old Albanian Cricket Club Sunday Cavaliers v Harpenden IIs

Scorecard

Old Albanian Cricket Club Sunday Cavaliers v Harpenden IIs on Sun 25 Apr 2010 at 2pm
Old Albanian Cricket Club Won by 8 wickets

Match report

The 2010 Cavaliers season got underway in fine style at Woollams on Sunday with a comfortable defeat of Harpenden IIs.

New skipper Fraser Tant won the toss and, mindful of his predecessor electing to bat first in the same fixture last season and losing before tea, fielded. The decision was soon vindicated, with the hostile Matt Penhaligan bowling one of the openers for a golden duck in his first over, and the accurate Lance Boyd-Clark claiming a victim in his first over too. Controversy reigned when the Harpenden skipper seemed to clip a ball from Penhaligan off his legs to keeper Todd Baines but stood his ground, but Penhaligan soon had his man lbw and Harpenden were reeling at 21 for 3.

However, the next two partnerships would at least ensure that Harpenden posted a semi-competitive total. Rebuilding slowly until 20 over drinks, the score had inched to 63 when Tant enticed an ugly shot from the first ball after the break, safely pouched by Simon Foster at first slip. The Cavaliers sensed that one more wicket would see them in amongst a youthful tail, but the key wicket took a while in coming as the partnership passed 70. The skipper reverted to his opening bowlers to make the breakthrough and runs immediately dried up. On 132, the visitors took an unnecessary risk, taking on the arm of Boyd-Clark in coming back for a second. Baines whipped off the bails and the collapse was on. Foster was quickly in on the action with the ball, bowling a niggly line against the tail and collecting 2 for 16 off six overs. The introduction of Spin Doctors David Best and Andy Thornton sounded the death knell for the Harpenden, who were skittled in the final over for 161.

Jim Handford and Ellis Thorpe opened the batting for the Cavaliers, with Handford looking in particularly good touch. As the heavens opened, Harpenden could certainly feel somewhat aggrieved with the conditions they had to bowl in compared to the sunshine before tea, but the conditions clearly didn't affect their fine leg fielder who took a stunning running catch over his shoulder at deep square leg to send a bemused Handford back to the pavilion. The joy for Harpenden was shortlived, however; enter Todd Baines, rejected by Harpenden a few years back and eager to prove a point. That he did, easing to a fifty of 35 balls and putting Harpenden firmly in the driving seat. He Retired Hungover on 59, bringing to the crease big-hitter Jon Gregory, who bludgeoned his way to a quickfire 23 off 14 balls, including the first recorded switch hit in Cavaliers history. His departure brought the classy Boyd-Clark to the crease who, together with the unflappable Thorpe (32no), eased the Cavs to a comfortable win with over 12 overs left.

"Sure, it's nice to start the season with a comprehensive win, and to get a bit of revenge for our stuffing last season" commented the skipper. "The lads were controlled with the ball, and once Bainesy let loose with the bat, a victory was never in doubt."