Aneurin Norman’s 1st XI chalked up another win at Marespool this afternoon, as they defeated Carmarthen Wanderers by 2 wickets in a nail biter!
Electing to bat first, our visitors were soon into their stride..18-0 from 3 overs! Recently transferred from Morriston, seamer Greg Handley stuck to his guns on debut as he took the first two wickets to fall..39-2.
Left arm spinner Jack Straw replaced Greg at the top end and struck with his first ball as Captain Norman snaffled a low catch at slip..CW now 47-3! Off spinner Max Phillips was on at the Clubhouse end and these two lads really stemmed the flow of runs. Jack took 1-26 in his 10 overs whilst Max conceded a mere 24 from his 10.
However, Carmarthen then picked up the pace, with good partnerships of 52 and 81 for the next two wickets..180-5. Jamie Sheldon (1-43) and Greg (3-42) took the other 4 wickets that fell as CW finished on 207-5 (including 28 wides) from their 50 overs,
Following the break on a glorious day for cricket, MCC soon found themselves under pressure as both openers were dismissed early on..31-2 in the 7th over, including 22 (5 fours) from Richard Gibby.
Greg Thomas and Elliott Oates came together and worked really hard to give their team a great chance to win the game. Greg top scored with 77 (8 fours & 2 sixes) whilst Elliott notched 47 (3 fours). However, each batter got out within 2 runs of each other so, including a further cheap wicket, the board was now reading 165-5..43 required from 8 overs.
Surely no problem with the run rate but, with new batters together, how would the nerves stand up down the order? Who would take the lead role?
165-5 became 183-6 when in-form Max Phillips (2) was dismissed for the first time this season. Meanwhile, wicket-keeper Sean Davies was at the other end and it was essentially his quick-fire knock (28 from 17 balls, 1 four & 3 sixes) that took the game away from Carmarthen. Jamie also did his bit late on, as he coolly stroked 10 vital runs to reward the engrossed crowd..final over, 206-8, 2 runs to win!
New batter Greg Handley came in at number 10, missed out from the first two deliveries but then coolly smashed a boundary to clinch an exciting home win with plenty of time to spare..3 balls in fact! Well done, guys!!
At Ammanford, our 2nd XI posted a respectable total of 205-9. Openers Ben Jones (51, 5 fours) and Jon Brearley (26, 3 fours) posted 64 for the first wicket followed by J-P Cronje (25, 3 fours) and BJ adding 51 next..115-2 when J-P left the scene. That score became 119-4, with Ben out too. Tomos Williams (33, 1 four & a six) and Richard Jones (27, 3 fours & a maximum) plus 20 extras took things to 205-9 at tea.
Following the interval, Ammanford came out all guns blazing, roaring to a fine 8 wicket win in the 39th over! The first wicket fell to Rhys Davies (1-19) with the score standing at 21 but thereafter it was all Ammanford as Fraser Benjamin led the way with 103no. J-P did throw in a wicket (1-30) but the home side thoroughly deserved their resounding win.
At Merthyr, our ‘A’ XI delivered a convincing victory over the host Club. MCC piled on 256-7 from their 40 overs. Dave Phillips was the main man with an impressive innings of 96. Good team batting also came from Stuart Seaton (31), Ian Joslin (44), Kapilan Radhakrishnan (24) and 14 year old Tomos Chivers (28no).
Merthyr were never really in the hunt, ending 71 runs short..189 all out in the final over. The nine wickets claimed by the bowlers were shared between debutant Mo Shawkat (4-32), Captain Eurig Morgan (1-29), Seats (1-14), Andrew Evans (1-15), Paddy Jenkins (1-5) and Dave (1-6)..an fine performance all round!
Next Saturday, our 1st XI travel to Ynysygerwn, the 2nd XI entertain Clydach at Marespool whilst the ‘A’ XI take on Dunvant at Murton.
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