All three Senior teams won their games on 4th August, all three Senior teams saw their games washed out on 11th & 18th so what was it to be yesterday (25th), the final day of Season ’18?!!
Well, it had to be I guess…ALL 3 XIs LOST!
MCC’s Match Of The Day took place at Stradey Park, Llanelli where Stuart Seaton’s 2nd XI (minus Seats himself..on duty for the 1st XI!) was led by ‘keeper Steve “Pows” Powell. The stand-in skipper had no hesitation in electing to bat first on a decent pitch.
23 overs later, his side sat down to tea, wondering how on earth they managed to limp to an all-out total of 75, with only Jamie Sheldon (34no, 4 fours) & fellow all-rounder Nik Patel (10, 2 fours) reaching double figures. Ah well, never mind, eh…game over, surely..
Rhys Davies, however, had other ideas as the home side were quickly reduced to 31-3..”Red 1″ had taken all three! Llanelli, somewhat twitchy by now, did rally though, climbing to 61-3, with so much time remaing to knock off the 15 runs required…tedious stuff…
Wait a sec, what’s going on here…? Opener Robert Bowen (23) was bowled by Nik Patel!! 61-4..became 62-5, 62-6, 66-7, 69-8..74-9! Nik (3-8) and 14 year old Luke Edwards (3-5) had truly ripped through the Lanelli middle order and tail! 2 runs required, 1 wicket required…the mighty Edwards ball in hand……ssshhhh…best of order please!
Miracles do happen and had happened since the tea break not that long ago. BUT Pows’ gallant men had by now used up their day’s allocation..Llanelli squeezed home after an incredible match! And there was nowt wrong with the pitch! Great effort lads….such team spirit was well rewarded with League Runners-Up spot!
At Marespool, there was only great pride to play for, as last Saturday had seen visitors Newport crowned 2018 Premier League Champs whilst Ryan Aingworth’s Lads had comfortably secured Premier League cricket for the Club next season!
Losing the toss and batting first against a fine Newport side, our 1st XI were soon in trouble at 53-4 in the 21st over…and opener Rhodri Evans had contributed 20 (2 fours) of those. Aneurin Norman joined Dan Lewis-Williams (4no at this point) and, not for the first time in recent weeks, these two did a great job as they entertained the good sized home crowd with a partnership of 76. “Noddy” holed out for 34 (2 fours & a six) whilst DLW was eventually dismissed for a breezy 65 (5 fours & a six)..with some decent batting to come, might a score near 200 be possible on a turning deck?
Unfortunately, no..not to be. 129-5 when Noddy was out in the 41st over was the start of a flurry of wickets..at tea, the Club had reached 178-9. Still, it was a fine recovery and certainly something for the bowlers to play with.
Dan saw off ex-Glamorgan batsman Ian Thomas early doors (1-1) but it was off spinner Max Phillips who really set his side up for a possible victory. His superb spell of 10 overs produced 3-24 as the new Champs stuttered their way to 110-5 in the 33rd over! Fellow spinner Jack Straw had also come to the party!
Despite further good bowling, two dropped catches did not help MCC’s cause as former Glamorgan skipper Mark Wallace (54no) & captain Mike Clayden (21no) calmly saw their boys home in the 48th over.
At Murton, our ‘A’ XI..
..were soundly beaten by Maesteg Celtic. Needing to win to guarantee survival in Division 5, our lads first watched our visitors accumulate 155-8…nevertheless, at a run rate of just under 4 an over, this score was “gettable” for sure!
Sadly, not yesterday…MC bowled MCC out for 83 to deservedly triumph by 72 runs.
We must now wait on the result of some games in hand in other SWCA Divisions to see how this might affect the outcome of this season for the ‘A’ XI. Despite yesterday’s defeat, the Club remains above the relegation zone (just!) in Division 5 but the maths of balancing the numbers within all the divisions may yet result in MCC’s relegation with Porthcawl to Division 6! We’ll know this time next week!
Finally, after a season of great performances and not so great at times, of happiness and not so happy at times, the invaluable work, efforts and wholehearted contributions of a growing number of Club volunteers has seen the Club develop yet further off the field. The guys ‘n gals who chip in know who they are and the guys ‘n gals who choose to not chip in know who they are…it’s never too late to put your hand up, if only on a one-off occasion, to help with the constantly growing workload.
- So, to those who do take part in the operating of Mumbles Cricket Club…THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
- And, to those who choose to stand/sit around, generally taking everything for granted and watching others bend their backs for us all, please please consider what you might be able to do to help YOUR Club or your children’s Club!
No amount of constructive help and support is too little..honest!