So, the exciting draw at St Helen’s last week contained some real signs of promise..could Aneurin Norman’s men go one better today and sneak a first win of the season at Pontarddulais?
Noddy won the toss on a sunny day and elected to bat. However, before MCC’s Barmy Army had had time to settle into their seats, his 1st XI were 15-2! Whoops! Student debutant Scott de Weymarn strode to the wicket…was his confident demeanour masking new boy nerves, though? Nah, not a bit of it! Before he played his only false shot (to get himself out!), Scott helped himself to 44 priceless runs, including 8 very strongly hit fours! Dan Roberts (32, 4 fours), Captain Noddy (25, 2 fours) & Eddie Extras (23, 19 wides) were the other main contributors to a total of 171 all out at tea.
Was this score (a) enough to put any sort of nervousness in the minds of Bont’s batsmen? Or, on a slow pitch, would it indeed be enough to (b) pull off a winning draw or (c) dare one dream, a narrow win?
Well, the answer was…(a)! MCC pulled off a quite magnificent win by 93 runs in Bont’s back yard!
Last Saturday’s centurion Dan Lewis-Williams took a wicket in his first over to buoy up his buddies! Left arm spinner Dan Roberts came on the at the town end…a smart move by Noddy! And in no time at all, with the help of some excellent catching, Bont were bowled out for 78! In just 24 overs, DLW had claimed 5-35 & Danrob 4-27, with Ryan Aingworth (1-4) finishing proceedings for the day!
A truly fantastic performance by our 1st XI which was simply a privilege to watch!
The 2nd XI also had a resounding victory over Pontarddulais at Marespool. Stuart Seaton’s men rattled up 243-7 and then summarily dismissed the visitors for 90!
Seats decided to bat first, sending Tony Dowrick and Peter Tuckett in to open the show. After a useful opening stand of 43, Tony (12) departed the scene allowing 15 year old Conor Stone to join Pete in the middle. They took the score to 137 in good time, before Conor was dismissed for 37 (5 fours & a six). Another productive partnership soon got going as Ben Jones (36, 5 fours) added 60 runs with Tucks…197-3. Tucks, a fine player, has recently returned to the locality and everyone is so pleased to see him back in MCC colours. To celebrate his first home game for a few years now, Tucks scored a typically classy 92! His knock included 13 fours and a six! Time was running out at the end of the 2nd XI’s innings with wickets being sacrificed in the search for quick runs. MCC 243-7 at tea.
Without knowing it at the time, the game was effectively over. Bont never really got going in reply – despite an opening partnership of 41 (Alex Thomas 38, Wides 3), they capitulated and were bowled out inside 33 overs thanks mainly to spin twins Rahul Shah (3-22 from his 10 overs) and Jack Straw (6-19 from 10). Aided by some good catches, these two lads were simply too good for the visitors! 41-0 had become 90 all out.
Next Saturday, the 1st XI travel to Ynysygerwyn, the 2nd XI play host to “Ynys” at home and the ‘A’ XI take on Landore at Murton. Then, next Sunday (15th), the 1st XI make their way to Skewen for the 1st round of the SWCA T20 Cup.