For the first time in the history of our great Club, we made the Final of this year’s Welsh Cup Competition, played v Penarth at Neath CC this afternoon (29th)….
..AND, FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF OUR GREAT CLUB..
WE HAVE WON THE WELSH CUP!!!
Back Row – Rhodri Evans, Aneurin Norman, Chris Nelson, Gavin Williams, Jack Straw, Cam Protheroe
Kneeling – Ieuan Rosser (W/K), Harri Turner, Max Phillips, Ryan Aingworth (Capt), Stuart Seaton, Dan Lewis-Williams
Photo – Gareth Jones
In front of an excellent crowd at The Gnoll in late August sunshine, Ryan Aingworth led his team of cricketing heroes from the front! He won the toss and decided to bat first. What unfolded during the next five hours or so was just a great game of cricket which certainly ebbed and flowed throughout the afternoon.
Penarth’s 1st XI had had the more successful season to date in that they had won more games and had deservedly gained promotion to The Premier League’s 1st Division for next season. And they showed their colours early on in the piece! At 1pm, the game got under way…at 1.04pm, MCC were 2-1! Ten overs later, the second wicket fell and we were suddenly behind the clock somewhat in this 40 over game…27-2. Early runs continued to be hard to come by…45-3 in 19th, Max Phillips run out for 26 (1 four).
Saturday captain Aneurin “Noddy” Norman came in at number 5, to join Dan Lewis-Williams (10no). The experience of these two shone through as they skilfully crafted an excellent partnership of 84 between them..DLW out for 63 (4 fours & 2 sixes), 129-4 in the 33rd over. The clock was ticking away, however,…more runs please! Enter Ieuan Rosser to keep Noddy company. These two lads then added a further vital 55 in 7 overs, before Noddy left with 64 runs (1 four & 4 sixes) to his name. MCC finally totalled 189-5 in 40 overs, Ieuan ending on 20no from 19 balls faced.
A good recovery BUT, with Penarth needing less than 5 an over to win after tea, this game was nowhere near over! And, if Noddy had one eye on the Man of The Match award after his top score, he had a long way to go! Throw into the mix that DLW was not fit to bowl, Captain Ryan had his work cut out here for sure.
Rhodri Evans shared the new ball with Noddy and these two gave nothing away. Evs nipped out opener Rhys Morgan in the 10th over..25-1. Noddy’s first spell of 5 overs at the other end had cost a mere 11 runs, whilst Evs bowled straight through to finish with 1-25 from his 8 overs. Ryan himself came on and was also economical…0-22 from 5. Penarth however were recovering slowly, 64-1 with one ball left of left arm spinner Jack Straw’s first over. Then…BINGO! JS cleaned bowled opener Tom Sindford for 27…64-2 after 20 overs!
Richard Skone was already setting his stall out (12no) when he was joined by all-rounder Ali Bukkhari, a dangerous player. After some lusty hitting by Ali, 33 runs came during the next 6 overs before Evs held on to a good catch off Jack to see off Richard for 32…97-3 in the 26th. This game was finally balanced, make no mistake and Ali was still in the balls..21no. Ryan decided that he should have his second spell now….and what a great decision that was! He immediately had Nick Morgan lbw for zero…Penarth 97-4! Phew…it was all go!
Captain Jonathan Davies joined Ali and they added 37 priceless looking runs in 5 overs, before that man Noddy took a catch off Jack to see the back of Captain Davies…134-5 from 32 overs now. Ali was still there though, and he had to surely go soon if Ryan’s guys were to take the game by the scruff of the neck. Jack’s spell was now over too, 3-28 from 8 overs…just magnificent!
Another masterstroke by Ryan…bring Nods back on to bowl his final three overs! And, as if the catch off Jack had served to warm his hands up, Noddy immediately responded. 134-5 became 134-7 within two deliveries! Ali (46, 2 fours & 4 sixes) was caught by Stuart Seaton, only to be followed next ball by ‘keeper Sam Docherty, clean bowled first ball for 0! Now then…c’mon lads!
Let’s cut to the chase here…134-7 in the 33rd became 158 all out in the 37th! Noddy had only weighed in with a second spell of 5-8 from 3 overs…5-19 from his 8!! Just inspirational straight seam bowling..the one catch for Seats, one lbw and three sets of stumps shattered!
Ryan’s XI had triumphed by 31 runs to pull off a truly historic victory for the Club! “Really well played” to all involved today….a fantastic occasion and a wonderful wonderful finale to Season 2016!
A Very Proud Captain Ryan!
