Saracens Hertfordshire Cricket League Division Ten

Old Elizabethans 2nd v St Albans West Indians

NEWLY promoted St Albans West Indians made a successful start to their Division Ten campaign, with a convincing win against Old Elizabethans 2nd's on Saturday.

Having won the toss, Captain Fitzroy Stapleton elected to put the home side in to bat on a wicket which looked to offer assistance to the bowlers.

Against some tight bowling from the opening attack of brothers Ken and Fitz Stapleton, the Old Elizabethan openers were soon in trouble, losing their opener S Mitchell, bowled by Ken Stapleton for a duck in the third over, with no runs on the scoreboard.

With the fielders giving good support to the bowlers, the home side found scoring very difficult, and were scoring less than one run an over.

The home side lost their second wicket, their number two bat, M Ridley, being bowled by Fitz Stapleton for six, with the score on 15. Ken Stapleton was, again, among the wickets, when he had number three bat, J Hobday, caught at mid-on, for a top score of eight.

Nem Williams and Carlton Osborne continued the tight bowling, and it was not long before Nem was among the wickets having number four, R Jones, caught for five.

The next over saw Nem take another wicket, dismissing number five, M Cheney, for five, which left him blowing for a hat-trick, which he was denied.

Carlton Osborne then had number six, J Smith, caught in the slips for three.

Wickets then fell regularly, with all five bowlers getting wickets. The home side was all out by the 33rd over for a score of 38.

The Windies set about their task positively, and were soon into their stride with the opening pair of Nem Williams and Kingley Simmons taking 11 runs off the first two overs. The home side struck in the third over, by taking the wicket of Simmons, who was bowled playing back to a ball from opening bowler D Perkins, that kept low.

This was to be their only success, as Williams was joined at the crease by Harry Sookraj, who immediately set about the bowlers by hitting a four off only his second ball. That set the pattern, with both batsmen going for their shots. By the eighth over, the Windies had passed their target and picked up 30 points.

Nem Williams ended unbeaten on 22 and Sookraj unbeaten on 15.