There were perhaps a few nerves amongst the crowd before yesterday’s 1st XI game at Marespool got under way.
The mighty Cardiff, Premier League Champs in 2014 and currently within a stump’s varnish of leaders Newport, were in town, no doubt sniffing a hatful of points against Aneurin Norman’s Men. It is certainly true that the fine form shown throughout May had recently deserted our boys so this was surely going to be a major test of character and self-belief?
And..the result of said test? Noddy’s Boys passed..with flying colours! OK, so Cardiff won the toss, but Noddy would have chosen to bat first anyway. It proved to be a great game of cricket and a draw was probably fair, but what was SO important is that it was a winning draw for our 1st XI and, with that, a very useful haul of points! Cardiff came off second best on the day!
At 20-1, Cardiff must have thought “here we go”. Wrong! Scott De Weymarn (37, a four & 2 sixes) joined opener Rhodri Evans and these two lefties put on 106 together in good time. After Scott went, leftie number three Dan Roberts came in and coolly stroked his way to 23 (3 fours) before he was unlucky to be adjudged run out. He and Evs had added 49..175-3. That became 194-4, when Evs himself was finally out…but not before he’d skilfully crafted 90 runs (10 fours & a six) and provided the backbone around which the Club’s innings was based. The stage was set for Noddy (34, a four & two sixes) and Dan Lewis-Williams (32, 1 four & 2 sixes also) to take the final total to 253-6.
Cardiff’s turn…and, in the time it takes to add sugar to tea, DLW & Noddy had reduced them to 22-2! AND…11 overs had been bowled! Noddy was at his meanest, conceding a mere 19 runs from his 10 overs! He claimed that one scalp whilst Dan claimed 2-55. Cardiff recovered well, however, reaching 144-3…the game was nicely poised at this point. Then, Evs (2-37) & Jack Straw (1-19) put their hands up, taking three crucial middle wickets between them…Cardiff 154-6! Tom Bevan (15) & keeper Steff Jones took the score to 191 before Max Phillips kept his cool to run out Tom. Steff Jones was still there however, on 39 from 29 balls faced (2 sixes already), & threatening to become a match-winning hero for his team! Sub fielder Chris Nelson (work commitments had prevented his not being able to play from the start) then claimed his second catch to see Steff off…214-8!
It was a tense finish but victory was not to be as Cardiff held out…final score 231-8. A great game, and a top effort by Noddy’s Boys!
At Carmarthen, Stuart Seaton’s 2nd XI wasted little time in coasting to a 7 wicket win. The Wanderers chose to bat first…154-9 at tea. Returning to 2nd XI duty, Adam Frangakis-Williams and all-rounder Harri Turner were the pick of the bowlers with 3-26 & 3-25 respectively. In reply, Seats’ Men lost just three wickets in knocking off the runs to win in the 32nd over. Openers Cam Protheroe (40, 6 fours & a six) and Tom Davies (58, 9 fours) laid the platform with an opening partnership of 105. Although both lads got out within a few runs of each other, Eddie Extras (26) and Harri (25no) combined to see the side over the line. As a result of this latest fine effort, our 2nd XI remain 3rd in their division, with a game in hand.
At Murton, the game was even shorter as Alex Protheroe’s unbeaten ‘A’ XI thrashed Margam, to win by 8 wickets. Our visitors were bowled out for 70 in 26 overs, with the wickets shared amongst Kaps, Will Turner, Matthew Gully & Ben Prothero-Banks. Thanks to Ruman Mohammad (43, 7 fours & 2 sixes) & Joe Phillips (20no, 2 fours), MCC surpassed that total in the 11th over, just 2 wickets down! Consequently, our ‘A’ XI remain in second spot, behind leaders Ammanford.
Next Saturday (6th), the 1st XI travel to Bridgend whilst the 2nd XI entertain Ynystawe at Marespool. The ‘A’ XI have a bye on Saturday but play Briton Ferry Town in the SWCA T20 Shield semi-final at Marespool on Sunday (7th), 2pm start. All support welcome!