Saint Albon sets up last over win for Letchworth

Highlights: S McGiffin 77 and 3-2-43-3, Barry 38 and 10-0-41-1, Hobley 36. Click here for full score card.

Interesting fact. Letchworth Garden City is home to the UK’s first gyratory traffic flow system, otherwise known as the roundabout (built c.1909). Were it also the home of the UK’s first child’s swing, there would be a slam dunk metaphor for this 550 run thriller of cricket match, the result of which was unpredictable up until 99.5 overs were played.

Chasing an imposing 274 set by NCC, Letchworth were led to victory by a chanceless 150 from number four Dave Albon.

Losing the toss, Northchurch were invited to bat first on a good looking surface. Liveing played the supporting role to Barry Barry who looked to play positively. The opening pair took Church to 60 for no loss after 11 overs, before JB fell lbw to left arm spinner Curry who mixed his pace well. Liveing was caught at mid-off from the same bowler nine runs later, bringing Hobley to the crease to rendezvous with last week’s century stand partner, McGiffin, who had already got going with a six to long on.

A solid partnership of 68 followed, featuring some watchful defence, rotation of the strike and ruthless punishment of short balls. However, Hobley fell lbw to one of these deliveries, an off spinner from Dave Albon which skidded on low. Romit Patel and Henry Bexon Provided excellent support to Steve, who passed his 50 at a run-a-ball. An injury to Patel meant that boundaries became his only scoring options and he was bowled by Munson for twelve while looking for the rope. Bexon played with imagination and lovely touch to keep the scoreboard ticking and set a platform for an explosive last 10 but was perhaps unlucky to be adjudged lbw on the sweep to a ball he may have edged onto his pad.

McGiffin was the next man to head back to the pavilion, caught out on the pull by one that kept a little low, to be bowled for fine 77, just at time when he was looking to accelerate. This left Suckling, Lindsay and Smart to capably guide Church though the last 8 overs at just shy of a run-a-ball, to set the imposing score of 274.

Church pushed hard for wickets early in the second half, leaving gaps in the field which Letchworth looked to exploit but this meant that chances would surely come. The NCC boys were probably the happier side after 10 overs, with the home team on 31 runs for three wickets. OJ found a bit of swing to induce a mistimed drive back to him, after a half chance went down in the cordon the ball before, then quickly beat the bat to trap the opposition captain lbw for 3 runs. McGiffin, meanwhile, had forced his way through the defences of Wase to trap him lbw for 4. You could say that Wase was beaten for pace.

However, Letchworth recovered over the next 10 overs, with Albon hitting cleanly down the ground, supported by some quick runs from professional edger, Curry. Albon continued to be positive when he lost his spicily-named friend to a mistimed cow corner slog off Barry Barry-Barry which only found Hobley at mid-on, while Church thought they may have opened up an end.

At drinks, things were poised for a tense finish, with Letchworth on 130 runs for 4 wickets and needing to do the same and a bit more again in the second half. The majority of that work was done by Albon, supported well by Hughes, who played himself in, despite the increasing gloom and found a method to hand the strike back to the main man.

With the spinners on and the field back, it was a case of holding the nerve for the both sides. Hughes and Albon milked well, and took calculated risks to progress their team into a position from which they could win the game. A second spell from McGiffin could not bring about the much needed wicket, while some tight bowling from Hobley meant that Northchurch were always in the hunt, although Albon continued to play the big shot at the right time to relieve the pressure and keep his team marginal favourites.

Going into the last three overs, Church had just nine runs to defend and needed some inspiration. McGiffin’s plan to target the stumps with Yorkers returned immediate success as he removed Hughes, bowled for a very valuable 55. In the next over, Hobley stepped up to clean bowl number 7 Munson and set up a nail biting last over finish with that man Albon to face, set on 150 and needing just 5 runs to take his team to a brilliant victory.

A single to the on from the first ball brought new man Denman on strike to peer into the darkness and watch McGiffin bearing down on him. Bat on ball, a scrambled single, Albon back on strike and 3 required from 4 balls. McGiffin, needing to find some magic, rattled through bat and pad to sensationally remove the bails and bring number 9 Manning to the crease. A French cut past square leg brought two scrambled runs. Scores level, 1 run needed from 2 balls. The tight NCC field could not prevent a successful tip-and-run to secure a very well earned 30 points for the home team, leaving Northchurch dejected, having played so much cricket, though with 17 points to show for their efforts.

A fantastic game to start the league season and congratulations must go to Albon for his match winning innings. Northchurch have plenty of positives to take from the game and now must use this experience to be ruthless in seeking victory next week when they face Met Police Bushey at home.