With the 1st XI’s match v St Fagans at Marespool and the 2nd XI fixture at Gorseinon falling foul to the overnight/early morning rain today (15th), it was left to John Courtney’s ‘A’ XI to lighten the mood on the all-weather pitch at Murton, where Merthyr were in town.
And what a game this turned out to be! A corker in fact!
JC won the toss and sent the Heads of The Valley side out to field. Good decision, John? It didn’t look like it when his side’s score read 24-4 from 8 overs!
Then, thanks goodness for the NHS yet again as the two middle order medics mounted a disciplined recovery. Jon Brearley and Ian Joslin took the score to 88 when Ian was out for 14 (2 fours). Another wicket fell within just two more runs, 90-6, when Luke Edwards joined Jon. Their combined talents saw the MCC total reach 127, when Jon was finally dismissed. He had entertained those gathered with a fine innings of 71, including 5 sixes & 4 fours!
Luke scored 17 (2 fours) as the home side finished with a total of 145 all out, with just over 6 overs of the innings remaining.
After tea on the green, Merthyr were soon in trouble themselves as the very accurate Alex Davies claimed the opener’s scalp..4-1! However, at the other end, Arwel Hughes looked a serious threat.
Our visitors’ innings ebbed and flowed. A wicket here, a double figure score there..and Arwel’s excellent knock of 50 took the game to the wire. 103-6 in the 29th over became 130-7 from 36..sixteen to win from 4 overs, three wickets in hand!
130-8, 141-8 from 38 overs…too tense for some! 144-9…..yikes! One over to be bowled, 2 to win for Merthyr!
And win Merthyr did..by 1 wicket in that final over! The nine wickets were shared by Alex (1-15), Jon (1-25), Luke (2-19), Owen Williams (3-23), Ian (1-9) & Ronnie Runout.
Simply, a great game!
Next Saturday (22nd), Phil Roche takes his 1st XI to Cardiff, our 2nd XI take on Clydach at Marespool whilst the ‘A’ XI visit Drefach. Then, on Sunday (23rd), the 1st XI play host to Swansea in Round 1 of the Premier League T20 Cup competition, start 1pm.