Second placed Dafen visited Marespool yesterday (27th) to take on Aneurin Norman’s in-form 1st XI in a top-of-the-table clash!
After losing the toss, MCC fielded first and took control from the start. Aneurin and Soorya Selvakumar destroyed the visitors’ top order as the board read 32-5 after their respective spells of 10 overs. The skipper had taken 3-10 (including 4 overthrows!) whilst Soorya claimed 1-22, plus there was a fine direct throw run-out by Max Phillips.
There was to be no way back for Dafen as Max (3-25), Jamie Sheldon (1-8) and Jack Straw (1-6) ran through the middle order & tail. The lads’ ground fielding and catching was spot-on, with Tim Hemp taking 4 grabs including 3 at slip off Aneurin.
In reply, opener Richard Gibby was adjudged lbw for 17 (1 four & a six), having put on 47 with his captain in just six overs! That was to be Dafen’s solitary success after tea, however, as our 1st XI strolled home to win by 9 wickets in the 11th over. All-rounder Aneurin’s impressive run of form continued as he closed on 46no, including 8 fours & just 1 maximum this week!
At Murton, Eurig Morgan’s ‘A’ XI overhauled Merthyr’s total of 213-7, to win by 5 wickets in the final over!
Captain Mogs lost the toss and was besides himself with angst as he reached for the right words to tell his mixture of a lot of youth & a lot of experience that they had to field for 45 overs in the sun! What followed was a batting performance of two halves or, rather two guys!
The third highest score was 7, as it was left to skipper Andrew Foley (93) and Adam Mortimer (63) to ensure a decent total to defend after the interval. On the home front, 15 year old Theo Morris (3-35) was the main man, backed up by Eurig (1-19), Lewis Francis (1-39), Stuart Seaton (1-44) and Robbie Runout (1).
214 to win..hold on tight!
Alan Harris (71, 10 fours & 3 sixes – was too hot to run!) & James Slack (51, 7 fours) opened up with a stand of 110 before AH was out. Malachi Williams, another 15 year old to whom Eurig is keen to offer as much opportunity as possible, came in next. He and “Slacky” added 54 before James was dismissed..164-2. Well placed, though the clock was ticking!
189-3, 203-4 when Malachi (a fine 44, with 4 fours & a six) was out, and then 207-5..7 still required, just over an over left!
Pressure on a 13 year old? Nah, all in the mind of the oldies on parade! Final over, impressive 13 year old ‘keeper Thomas Ludman came in next and duly smashed a four off the third ball of that final over to clinch the 5 wicket victory for his teammates!
As a postscript, it was a great family day for Thomas & his clan! Return to Para 3 of this spiel for Uncle Tim’s efforts at Marespool and check out Swansea’s 1st XI scorecard on Play-cricket for cousin Cameron Hemp’s knock v Cardiff at St Helen’s!!
At Ammanford, our 2nd XI also won the toss, and batted first on a glorious day in the park.
Captain Joe Phillips (51, 7 fours) and wicket-keeper Jaden Patel (16, 3 fours) added 60 for the first wicket. Joe was next out at 104-2, and a further wicket fell at 126-3. Then Ben Jones (49, 5 fours) and Tony Dowrick (24, 4 fours) added 66 between them..192-4.
In the scramble for late runs, wickets then fell regularly..final total 233-8 from our 45 overs.
After the break, Rhys Davies (1-29), Kapilan Radhakrishnan (1-38) and a run-out by debutant Mandar Khash reduced our hosts to 37-3 as they set off in pursuit of our score. Our lads kept chipping away..Ammanford 120-6. Game swinging MCC’s way maybe?
Unfortunately, it was not to be as only one more wicket fell before the home club broke the tape in the 39th over, to claim the spoils..236-7. Vineet Sabharwal (1-46), Paul Kenealy (2-42) & Ben (1-33) shared the other four wickets.
Next Saturday (3rd), our 1st XI & 2nd XI play Carmarthen, away and home respectively, whilst the ‘A’ XI make their way to Ynystawe.