Within this fine sport of ours, it’s extraordinary how something unexpected will always come along to put a smile on our faces! How something very special will happen and something very brave will leave us full of respect!
AWARD 1 – The Special One
Our 2nd XI took on Gorseinon at Marespool and duly sent them home, defeated!
Electing to bowl first, our guests were soon questioning the wisdom of such a decision as 17 year old home wicketkeeper Jaden Patel opened up with Ben Jones in some style. These lads added 96 before Ben (46, 8 fours) left to contemplate his looming tea as usual. Jaden carried on.
A further wicket fell soon after, so “Gors” would have felt that the tide below the headland was turning..106-2. Former All Whites speedster Alan Harris joined Jaden and it was their masterful exhibition that took the total to 233 before Alan’s knock of 50 (7 fours, 1 six) was terminated. Jaden carried on.
To the chase I shall cut..Jaden was 5th out after that very special knock of 101!! His 14 fours and single six formed the basis of his maiden senior century, in a week that had also seen him selected to play for the Junior League’s U17 side to take on the experience of Wales O50’s!!
Jaden Patel, take a bow, wipe yourself down..you’ll be going back out to keep wicket in a sec!! MCC 276-5 in their 45 overs, including 53 extras!
After that tea, Gorseinon lost an early wicket..caught Jaden off Joe Holland! Thanks to various efforts, Gors did their best to stay in touch but Phil Roche’s bowlers always seemed to take wickets at crucial times, with Joe (2-53), Rhys Davies (2-29), Tomos Williams (3-7), Jacob Nicklin (2-51) and Gethin Morgan (1-44) doing the sharing.
Eight crucial catches also helped as Gorseinon were finally bowled out for 235 in the 41st over..victory for MCC by 41 runs! Well done, team!
AWARD 2 – The Unexpected One
The day’s champagne moment came outside Cardiff where Aneurin Norman’s in-form 1st XI took on promotion chasing Pentyrch.
Owing to overnight/morning rain, the start was delayed until 2.01pm when a 37 over match got underway. Our hosts chose to bat first and it wasn’t long before the pattern of the day began to form..i.e. the bowlers of each side were to boss it all day.
It was somewhat strange as the batting strip was playing well – the ball carried well and there was slight turn there for the spinners. No complaints, then!
Seamer Jamie Sheldon (remember the name) struck in the second over, as ‘keeper Sean Davies snaffled a straight forward catch..4-1! That became 18-2 as JS Senior (2-37) struck again, with JS Junior (Jack Straw) taking the first of his three catches!
At 60-2, Pentyrch were looking ok to be fair. But they could never really get away! Our spinning trio of Jack (4-14), Max Phillips (1-23) and fellow all-rounder Greg Thomas (2-17) kept their heads, and their line, to reduce the opposition to 122-9 before Aneurin (1-11) came back to bowl them out for 128 in the 36th!
Our guys also fielded very well to stifle Pentyrch, both on the ground and via 7 catches & a smart stumping! Top effort all round!
After one of the finest cricket teas ever known to the scorer, Aneurin’s Lads rather started and stuttered on their way to 89-8 in reply in the 31st over, with Greg (30, 3 fours & a max) top scoring. Now what?!
40 required from 6 overs…with the bowlers in the middle! 18 year old Mike Jarrett has played only a handful of games at this level, and is selected as a bowler. However, he showed composure as he picked up 15 runs (2 fours) before a right mix-up saw him run out! “Sheldo” was at the other end, as we now needed 14 runs from 10 balls to win! JS Junior at the other end!
A four & a single, 9 required from 7. Then 9 required from the final over, Jamie on strike. Single, 8 from 5, 8 from 4, single to Jack, 7 from 3 balls now! Dot ball/no run, dot ball/no run..final delivery to come from a guy with slight pace! Ok, we could not win now without a wide or no-ball BUT we could tie!!
Bowler hares in, Sheldo facing with no decision to make (often better that way!)..six to tie!
BAMM..straight over long on to clear the boundary fence…we doff our caps to Jamie Sheldon!! WHAT A FINISH..!
MCC 128-9, Sheldo 25 no (2 fours & that magical six)!! Totally unexpected, so appreciated by his teammates!
AWARD 3 – The Brave Ones
It’s never easy for a captain or his team when you lose two players on the morning of a match but that’s what Eurig Morgan was facing as his ‘A’ XI trotted over to Tir Canol to take on 11 from Morriston CC.
We had already had no option but to concede a game earlier this season when no more than five were available to play..not the MCC way. On this occasion, the ‘A’ IX turned up, played, lost and left, as acclaimed for trying as if they had actually overcome the obvious disadvantage.
The home XI chose to field first, a decision justified as they bowled our guys out for 117, Dai Holland (24) top-scored, whilst son Macs (14), Dave Martin (16), John Courtney (12) and Eurig (17no) also reached double figures.
In reply, Morriston were immediately in deep trouble at 9-3, thanks to Dave Martin (2-21) and Tony Dowrick (1-16)! Alas, however, no further wickets were to fall as our hosts romped home to win by 7 wickets in the 31st over. A very brave effort by our lads, nevertheless.
The Club certainly deserves to see greater consistency of availability in the future, especially with those pledging to play at the start of a season actually playing!
To those who did play for our teams yesterday, thanks for the memories!
It’s final Saturday next week! Our 1st XI in 5th spot (but within 5 points of 3rd!) take on Gorseinon at Marespool, the 2nd XI in 4th position (but within 3 points of 3rd) visit Carmarthen Wanderers and our ‘A’ XI (PLEASE not 9!), lying 4th, welcome Baglan to Murton.