At Murton, our ‘A’ XI took the Club spoils today as they defeated visiting Merthyr by 7 wickets with some ease!
Batting first, 10-man Merthyr totalled 160 all out in their innings, during which 13 year old Macs Holland (below) took 5 – 23!
Four Merthyr lads exceeded 20 during their innings but it was Eurig Morgan’s boys ‘n men who dominated pretty well throughout the match.
18 year old opening bowler Alex Davies (1-24) started proceedings, where his wicket was one of 8 catches held on the day. 14 year old wicketkeeper Ben Marks pouched four, whilst the ever so slightly older Paddy Jenkins took two excellent ones and Macs’ dad, Dave, & Stuart Seaton claimed one each!
Luke Edwards, also 18, (1-38), Seats (1-27) and Vinny Sabharwal (1-17) also weighed in, but it was young Macs who was by far the most successful bowler on parade! As if he had been playing league cricket for as long as a few teammates, Macs helped himself to five wickets! Thus doing, he ensured that our visitors did not give our batsmen too many to chase in the heat! Nice work, Macs!
After the interval, the MCC batsmen were never in trouble, Seats (78, 12 fours) and Vinny (40, 7 fours) added 117 for the first wicket. Then Luke (17no, 1 four and a huge six to take game!) and the evergreen Eric Extras (23) did the rest to ensure the team scorched to a fine victory in the 34th over out of the maximum of 40 permitted! Superb work, fellas!
At Marespool, our 2nd XI lost to visitors Ynystawe by just one run!
Taking first knock, our visitors recovered remarkably well from being reduced to 0-2 from 15 year old Tom Chivers’ first two deliveries to post an impressive total of 268-5 from their 45 overs.
Tom (3-47) and 16 year old Hugo Lewis (1-32) shared four wickets before Ceri Durke (31), Phil Bendle (102no) and Mike Durke (61no) performed miracles in the middle order for their team! Harri Turner (1-30) was the other successful home bowler of seven used.
In reply, Phil Roche’s side needed a good start if MCC were to get even close! And openers Harri (89) & Jaden Patel (65) certainly did not disappoint!
At various stages, the 2nd XI were 133-0 from 23 overs and 186-2 from 30, in very hot pursuit..83 required from 15 overs, 8 wickets in hand!
Following that high quality century partnership, 16 year old Joe Holland (20), 18 year old Mike Jarrett (19), Phil Roche (15) and Endeavour Extras (37) each got in, got out but, in doing so, crucially took the Club to the final over where 6 runs were required for victory, with 4 wickets in hand!
For the second consecutive Saturday at HQ, the question is “what happened next”?!
Unfortunately, excitement overcame our lower order as there were four run-outs in that final over! This included on the last ball where, 9 wickets down, 2 runs were required!
A truly excellent game of cricket, however, with great credit to both teams for superb efforts, whilst the spectators were lazing on a sunny afternoon!
Meanwhile, there was an early finish at Ynystawe where Aneurin Norman’s 1st XI were handsomely beaten with overs to spare.
MCC won the toss in the sauna-like heat, and chose to bat first. 0-2 in the first over!
Various guys got in and played some shots but 180 all out in the 45th over was always going to be tough to defend in the heat after tea, and on a decent pitch & grease lightning outfield.
Main man for Mumbles was ‘keeper Sean Davies with a really good knock of 54 (3 fours & 3 huge maximums), batting at number 7. The board read 70-5 when he first took guard, and 179-9 when he had all but run out of partners.
In fact it was the lower order to really thank for any sort of total at all, with Sam Harris and Rhys Davies contributing 21 & 16 respectively. Earlier in the piece, Max Phillips had scored a fluent 35.
When it came to Ynys’ turn, things did not look at all good from ball one. Aneurin has been plagued with a bad shoulder injury all season, with surgery postponed until after the season ends. He did try, but it was clear from his first delivery that he was once again in trouble. He bowled only two overs.
Wicket takers were spinners Jack Straw, Sam Harris and Max with a wicket each, but it was opening bat Nathan Lee who dominated the show with a superb knock of 102 off 78 balls for the hosts, this after taking 4 catches behind the stumps earlier in the match!
Ynystawe wiped out the 1st XI’s score in the 29th over, to win by 7 wickets!
Next Saturday (23rd), Cowbridge call in at Marespool to play the 1st XI, our 2nd XI hitch a ride to St Helen’s to play Swansea and the ‘A’ XI make their way to Dunvant CC.