With our first 1st XI and ‘A’ XI games of this season each falling foul to the continuing shocking weather, new 2nd XI Captain Stuart Seaton led his troops in a shortened match at Pontarddulais.
Reduced to 35 overs a side owing to the recent rain, there was no shortage of drama to keep both sides and the few brave supporters of both sides interested!
Choosing to field first, “Bont’s” bowlers kept a tight rein on the first 3 visiting batters – MCC 52-3 at the end of the 20th over! Well over halfway!
Then Ed Moger (57, 3 fours & 2 sixes) and Gareth Baglow (35 from 28 balls, 2 fours & 3 sixes) doubled the score in a mere 6 overs..104 – 4 when Baggers was out!
Wickets then fell steadily – final score 144 – 9 from the 35 overs.
Pontarddulais’ reply started steadily..48-1 in the 12th over. A ball later, new lad Everton De Silva was on a hat trick! Alas, however, it was not to be!
48-2 climbed to 78 when danger man Jac Williams was out for an important 28. 40 runs were then added taking our hosts to 118-4, with plenty of time left.
Time enough for a few jitters too, though, as young Ed Harris was also on a hat trick with the board first climbing steadily to a score of 137 – 4: that became 137 – 5, then 137 – 6!! Surely not?!!
Sadly, our batters had not mustered enough runs as Pontarddulais strolled on to win by 4 wickets, with 10 overs to spare. Still, many positives to be taken from a pretty dismal day for cricket! Apart from Ed & Baggers’ efforts with the bat, Everton (3-35) and 14-year-old Ed (2-27) led with the ball from the 8 bowlers employed today, while fellow 14-year-old Tom Ludman kept very well, conceding just 1 bye and claiming a stumping!
Tomorrow (5th), the 1st XI make their way to Ynystawe for Round 1 of the Premier League T20 Cup, start 12 noon.
Next Saturday (11th), our 1st XI take on Abergavenny at Marespool and the ‘A’ XI travel to Briton Ferry Steel. As there is an odd number of clubs in their Premier League Division this year, it is the turn of our 2nd XI to have no game, aka a bye!