Always a popular slot on BBC’s “A Question of Sport” but few would get the answer correct here, even if they already know the answer..it is that unbelievable!!
Those present at Marespool yesterday (9th) either played in or watched one of the greatest finishes in the 13 year history of the South Wales Premier League!
Having lost the toss, MCC batted first against Ynysygerwyn. So far, so good!
Soon after the start, MCC were 23-1. Elliot Oates then joined Richard Gibby and featured in a fine partnership of 117. Rich was run out for 83 (10 fours & a six), whilst Elliott was next to leave the scene, having notched 56 (8 fours & a six)..167-3 in the 36th over.
Captain Aneurin Norman (11, 1 four) added 44 with all-rounder Greg Thomas before he too was run out. The middle order batted quickly to support Greg in taking the total to 261-7 at tea. Greg had scored an excellent 64 (9 fours & a six) from 63 balls faced!
In reply, the main question was whether Aneurin was fit to bowl with his ongoing serious shoulder problem. Sadly, he was not, so who was now going to step up with the new ball?
Enter stage left..Jamie Sheldon! Within what seemed like just a few seconds, “Ynys” were 0-1 and then 10-2, both to JS!! Game on!
After contributing 40 runs, the dangerous Alex McCormack was bowled by Max Phillips..70-3. Nathan Davies was 20no at this point and it was he who magnificently led the recovery. From 110-5, he and ‘keeper Adam Davies (47, 4 fours & a six) added 131 for the 6th wicket in under 16 overs..241-6. Ynys now required 21 to win, from 15 balls!
Two overs left, 16 required..4 wickets in hand! Last ball of the 49th, Geraint Bowden was run out by Max..255-7, and Nathan Davies off strike!
Seven runs required, from at least 6 balls i.e. the final over! Ball 1 = 4 byes! 3 required, from 5 balls! Ball 2 = a leg bye! 4 balls left, a mere 2 runs required by Ynys, 3 wickets in hand, Nathan now on strike!!
Well, what happened next?? Nathan took a single..off strike again, scores tied, 1 to see an Ynys win! Ball 4 = Emyr Lawrence bowled by Greg Thomas! Ball 5 = Ryan Williams bowled by Greg Thomas!
261-9, 1 ball left, 1 to win! THEN…last ball..ALED DAVIES RUN OUT BY GREG THOMAS!!
A team hat-trick to clinch a tie!! And Nathan Davies, with a magnificent 130no (15 fours), watching at the other end!
At various stages, each side could have won, each side should have won but the spoils were shared! MCC’s bowlers & fielders had done well here, with Jamie (2-52), Jack Straw (1-43), Max (2-32) and Greg (3-56) sharing the wickets to fall to our bowlers!
PHEW!
Meanwhile, across town, our 2nd XI & ‘A’ XI each pulled off emphatic victories v Clydach & Ynystawe respectively.
At Clydach, stand-in MCC Captain Harri Turner led his troops into battle, opening the batting himself. On a hot day with a lightning outfield in front of his team, Harri (22, 4 fours) & Ben Jones (45, 7 fours) added 61 for the 1st wicket in 14 overs. That soon became 65-2 when Jon Brearley was unluckily run out.
Gareth Baglow joined Ben and they added 47, before Ben was dismissed..112-3 in the 27th. “Baggers” was out for 46 (7 fours), 148-4 now. Tim Hemp, in his first game since 2014, notched 16 and Mo Shawtak (29no, 4 fours) then contributed to enable Harri’s XI to close on 203-8 at the interval.
It has to be said that the home side never really got going when it came to the chase.
Tom Chivers (1-13) struck early, whilst fellow young opening bowler Tom Williams (1-21) and off-spinners Mo (1-25) & Ben (2-20) saw to it that Clydach were reduced to 69-5 in the 26th over. Harri (3-10) and Adam Lewis-Williams (2-13) then mopped up, combining to bowl our hosts out for 120 in the 32nd over, and comfortably win by 83 runs.
Down the road at Ynystawe Park, Stuart Seaton was in charge of our ‘A’ XI. The home side won the toss and elected to field first in the heat.
40 overs later, Seats’ Men had batted well to reach a total of 210-8, with opener Rob Steele (44), new boy James Harris (55), Tony Dowrick (30no) and Elon Extras (44) leading the way.
After the break in the park, Ynystawe also found runs hard to come by when batting second. Dave Martin, one of several keen & committed Junior coaches, started the rot with 3-25.
Then, Jacob Nicklin (1-26), Tony Dowrick (5-28, including a hat-trick!) and Seats (1-11) shared the rest. Of the 10 wickets taken, our boys bowled 8 and snared 1 lbw! MCC had clinched victory by 61 runs in the 35th over, bowling Ynystawe out for 149.
Good work all lads, especially in the hot sun!
LATEST – In the SWCA T20 KO Cup R2 match at Marespool today (10th), the 1st XI lost to Aberdare by 37 runs. Please go to www.mumbles.play-cricket.com for the scorecard.
On Wednesday (13th), our Colts XI take on The XL Club in the annual match at Marespool, 1pm start. Go to the “Senior Selection” page for the MCC team,,should be another great afternoon’s cricket!
Next Saturday (16th), our 1st XI visit Ynystawe, the 2nd XI welcome the same Club to Marespool whilst Merthyr travel down the A465 to take on our ‘A’ XI at Murton.