…Stuart Seaton’s 2nd XI and Alex Protheroe’s ‘A’ XI both enjoyed good wins yesterday! Then the bad news..Aneurin Norman’s 1st XI did not!
At Marespool, Seats’ Men were asked to field first and did a great job restricting Neath to a total of 163 all out from 45 overs. After Luke Brown had reduced to Neath to 10-1, our guests recovered well to 51-1 and were seemingly well on track for a much healthier score, as is often the case on our high quality ground. Messrs Straw & Sheldon had other ideas, however, as Neath were soon rocking on 54-3. That became 121-3, when Luke & Rahul Shah hit their straps. With two more scalps for Luke & three for promising 17 year old off spinner Rahul Shah, Neath then slumped to 133-8. With good fielding throughout and Matthew Shepherd coming back to take the final two wickets, Neath ended on 163 all out.
MCC’s turn to impress. Well, at 22-2, none of the decent crowd were especially impressed, it has to be said! The game was all of a sudden becoming interesting! Mattie Shep then came in to join opener Dan Grace. These two took the score to 91 in good time before Shep (54, 7 fours & 2 sixes) succumbed after a typically belligerent knock. 15 year old Welsh International Conor Stone joined the vastly more experienced Dan and they added a further 60 runs before Conor was out for 28, with a four & 2 sixes in his tally..151-4. Plain sailing now…end goal in sight! Wait, no..not quite, as it happened! 151-4 became 161-7…! Something they ate at tea, maybe? Or just good ol’ MCC nerves, as often witnessed at Marespool! Gareth Baglow came in, had a look round and struck the runs that were needed to clinch a 3 wicket win in the 28th over. As a result of this latest effort, the 2nd XI remain the current leaders of their Premier League Division, with Neath in second spot.
At Murton, Alex P’s ‘A’ XI also fielded first and watched Llandeilo grind their way to 61-8 from their 40 overs…and, of these, Trevor Smith was undefeated on 30 at tea. Adam Frangakis Williams (3-8), Kaps (2-14), Sam Harris (1-8) and Matthew Gully (2-10) shared the wickets that fell. In reply, our ‘A’ XI lost an early wicket but Ruman Mohammad (47no, 4 fours & 4 sixes) thought that things had gone on long enough. He & Joe Phillips (13no, 2 fours) saw their team home in the 7th over! A great display, for sure!
Finally, at Neath, the 1st XI were bowled out for 95 in the 44th over. After tea, Neath were never in trouble as they comfortably and deservedly won by 8 wickets in the 28th over. No more need be said…!
Next Saturday (18th), the 1st XI, currently in fourth spot in the Premier League, play host to Port Talbot, the 2nd XI travel to Port Talbot and the ‘A’ XI take a trip to fellow SWCA Division 7 newcomers Ammanford for a mouth watering top of the table clash.
Then on Sunday (19th), the ‘A’ XI play at Marepool where they take on Ynystawe in Round 1 of the SWCA Shield competition. Much to look forward to next weekend yet again!