With so many guys unavailable for selection this week, it is extraordinary that the Club could take part in three Senior games today (17th) at all.
So, first of all, well done to those who did turn out and who did their very best for their Club in the heat!
At Premier League leaders St Fagans, the home side won the toss and decided to let MCC fry in the outfield first..obvious thing to do really. And they were soon into their stride early on, posting 60 before the first wicket fell in the 16th over. Not long after, however, St Fagans were 87-2 so were we about to see the underdogs press home the advantage?
Well, no..our hosts then added 70 for the 3rd wicket in good time, 157-3. As is so often the case, this was followed by another wicket almost immediately..171-4. After that it was all “St Fags” before the interval, as 100 runs were added from 75 balls in 45 minutes without further loss..271-4 at tea. Jack Straw (1-41), Rahul Shah (1-57) & Harri Turner (2-42) shared the wickets to have fallen.
Phil Roche’s Lads’ turn to bat now. At the very least, a steady start was vital if this challenging target was to be overhauled. Unfortunately, that did not occur..MCC 47-3 in the 13th. Aneurin Norman, who had conceded only 30 runs from his 10 overs, gave it a real go in the middle order, scoring 75 (4 fours & 5 sixes) from 78 balls faced but there was insufficient support after Harri (13) had helped him add 74..121-4. Richard Gibby (a rapid 20, 1 four & 2 sixes) also briefly took the opposition on but, alas, to no avail..MCC 183 all out in the 46th over.
At Marespool, Jaimie Thomas’ 2nd XI were bowled out for 140, chasing Gorseinon’s all-out total of 168.
Our guests did well to notch their total in the end, having at one stage being perilously perched on 99-7. Jaimie’s bowlers & fielders did extraordinarily well in the heat, with Jamie Sheldon taking 3-30, John Blyth 3-47, Adam Frangakis-Williams 2-39, Ben Jones 1-17 & Mattie Shepherd 1-12. Gareth Baglow and Steve Powell held four & 3 catches respectively!
In reply, Gareth (23, 3 fours) & Sean Davies (25, 5 fours) figured early on but the game was all but over when the MCC score read 84-8. Senior guys Rhys Davies (15, 2 fours), John (15, 3 fours) & Steve (18no, 1 four) did their best at the end to snatch the spoils but, despite their combined efforts, the 2nd XI finished 28 runs short with 9 overs remaining.
Meanwhile, Merthyr saw off our ‘A’ XI, to win by 72 runs on their home patch.
Batting first, our hosts posted a formidable total of 229-8 in their 40 overs. Luke Edwards (1-54), Gethin Morgan (1-26), Tony Dowrick (3-47) and Kapilan Radhakrishnan (2-36) shared the wickets that fell to bowlers. In reply, John Courtney’s Men were never really in the hunt unfortunately, despite the best efforts of Joe Phillips (63, 8 fours), JC himself (22, 4 fours) and Alex Davies (34no)..157 all out.
Next Saturday (24th), our 1st XI look to get back on track when Cardiff visit Marespool. Our 2nd XI visit Clydach whilst the ‘A’ XI welcome Drefach to Murton.