It was another strong weekend for Stevenage Cricket Club, with three wins from four fixtures in the Herts League.
1st XI – Stevenage CC Won by 22 Runs
Stevenage CC – 134 all out (44.2 overs)
Old Elizabethans CC – 112 all out (29.5 overs)
A hard-fought, low-scoring match saw the 1st XI grind out a crucial 30-point win away to Old Elizabethans. Batting first after winning the toss, Stevenage had to battle for every run.
- K Anand anchored the innings with a determined 45 (101), holding the side together despite wickets tumbling at the other end.
- D Edney provided vital middle-order impetus, striking 45 from 56 balls with six boundaries and a six.
The side was eventually bowled out for 134, but with runs on the board, the bowlers were quick to make inroads.
- M Anil was the star with the ball, producing a brilliant spell of 4 for 34 from 9 overs, dismantling the middle order.
- K Anand backed up his batting heroics with 1 for 23 from 8.5 overs at a miserly economy of 2.60.
- S Tyler and M Philpotts chipped in with key wickets to seal the win.
Old Elizabethans were dismissed for 112, giving Stevenage a deserved 22-run victory.
Stevenage remain 3rd in the HPCL Division 2A table on 305 points, trailing leaders Northwood (357) and Ampthill Town (322) with three matches left.
2nd XI – Stevenage CC Won by 5 Wickets
Preston CC – 192/8
Stevenage CC – 193/5 (48.3 overs)
Knocks of 62 to A Joshan (not out) and 52 for M Morris after the openers were dismissed for ducks helped the team to victory. S Pawar added 29 to the score.
Pawar was also top wicket taker with 3 for 34 runs in his 10 overs. The other wickets were spread among the other bowlers, taking one each.
League Position: Up to 7th in Division 4B on 252 points. While promotion is out of reach this year, back-to-back wins could push Stevenage into the top half of the table by season’s end.
3rd XI – Stevenage CC Won by 5 Wickets
Southgate Adelaide CC – 107 all out
Stevenage CC – 111/5 (18.4 overs)
Prashanth Kumar Kammari was top scorer well ahead of the rest with 49 n/o taking Stevenage to victory in just 18.4 overs after being set 108 to win. They elected to field first, a decision that proved to be a good one.
6th in Division 7East with 238 points, well clear of the relegation spots and with momentum for a late-season push up the table.
4th XI – Narrow Defeat
Allenburys & County Hall CC – 144 all out
Stevenage CC – 137 all out
The 4th XI fell just seven runs short in a tense finish despite battling hard with both bat and ball. Allenbury’s set a target of 145 without lasting their allotted overs but Stevenage were unable to meet that and were all out.
Jayanth Banoth was top scorer with the bat on 32. Waqar Ali took 3 wickets for 22 runs with the ball.
