No, not yet another US sit-com about to keep TV addicts indoors in this weather, but more the story of father & son in the sun at Ynystawe Park yesterday afternoon (3rd)!
Captain Morgan left his rum behind and decided to bat first after winning the toss for his ‘A’ XI. 40 overs later, his men were smiling at the sight of the scoreboard reading 257-4!
At the top of the order, 17 year old Joe Holland (25, 3 fours), Stuart Seaton (34, 6 fours) and Tony Dowrick (41, 7 fours) had each batted well to lay the all-important solid platform for the main show about to start – 141-3.
At this point, Dave Martin, one of the select band of merry men who have played for each of our 3 Senior XIs, joined his 14 year old lad, Sam, in the middle. History was about to be made within their family tree!
These young men combined to add 113 to the total before Senior was dismissed for 55 (11 fours!). Young Sam remained not out at the end of the innings – 56 superbly crafted runs, including 8 fours! Well done, guys!
As is often the case in decent weather and after being put to the sword in such fashion, the fielding side had little energy left to mount a serious challenge after tea. Ynystawe were duly bowled out for 150 in the 33rd over, to leave MCC victors by 107 runs! Of that total, Nathan Brooks finished undefeated on 71, having come in 1st wicket down.
Eurig led the way early on with a captain’s haul of 3-27, well supported by his 16 year old boy Gethin (1-30), Dhiraj Shetty (1-23), Stuart (1-25) & Joe (3-2), who mopped up the tail in devasting fashion.
At Marespool, our 2nd XI had two captains on the day! That’s another story, to be told in a bit!
Neither MCC skipper won the toss, as Carmarthen asked stand-in captain Ben Jones to bat first. And, in the final over of their 45, MCC were bowled out for 171.
Of this total, Paul Kenealy (36, 7 fours), Jean-Piere Cronje (unavailable to play until midday, 26/3 fours), Harri Turner (13, 2 fours), Vineet Sabharwal (12, 2 fours) & Matty Jovic (also 12, 2 fours) were the main men yesterday. In the end, Ben’s Boys did well to recover from 0-1!
After the customary fine tea, debutant Siraj Salim, transferred from Dafen CC during the week, bowled superbly as he took 4-37! Welcome aboard, Siraj!
16 year old Tomos Williams (2-26), Kapilan Radhakrishnan 92-26) & Vinnie (2-17) did the rest! Carmarthen 108 all out in just the 24th over! Great work, chaps!
Meanwhile, at Carmarthen, Captain Aneurin Norman had an important early decision to make before the game even started, and it wasn’t to do with the toss!
At around 11.50am, he had to hastily sort out a replacement player for Ed Moger, who was unfortunately injured during the pre-match warm-up. 2nd XI Skipper Joe Phillips was duly summoned and, for reasons only known to JP (!), he duly took his place on the field at 12.36 hours, a mere 6 minutes into the game! Top effort, Joe!
Our hosts were struggling from the start, as Nye himself and Soorya Selvakumar bowled so well to apply great pressure on the batsmen – Carmarthen 18-1 from 13 overs, when these two completed their first spells! And, after 24 overs, the scoreboard read 58-3.
THEN, those present were treated to a magnificent recovery as Captain Gareth Thomas (112no, 9 fours & 8 huge sixes) and Tom Davies (55, 3 of each) rescued the situation! During the ensuing 18 overs, our lads tried hard but they were put to the sword as G & T added 114 priceless runs in entertaining fashion!
Aneurin returned to immediately dismiss Tom..172-4. MCC took a further 4 wickets as The Wanderers rushed to add further quick runs at the end – 225-8 at tea!
Nye finished with 2-11 from his 10 overs, whilst Soorya (2-34), Jamie Sheldon (1-58), Max Phillips (2-37) & Jack Straw (1-49) claimed the rest. Despite the superb recovery by the home side, 226 to win on a good wicket and grease lightning outfield was certainly gettable.
Well, “gettable” perhaps, but it was not got! A disappointing start (5-1, 20-2) was not what the doctor ordered!
Max (26, 2 fours & a six) & Joe “Verstappen” Phillips (19, 2 fours) did their best to support Aneurin but it was, sadly, not to be. When the in-form Captain was caught on the boundary for 57 (2 fours & 5 maximums!), Carmarthen breathed a very loud sigh of relief and now smelt blood – 124-4!
MCC finished 23 runs short, on 202-9, as their 4 match 100% record disappeared. Well done Carmarthen, a memorable victory for their sun-kissed crowd to savour!
The consolation for MCC, however, is that our 1st XI remain top of the table!
Next Saturday, the 1st Team take on second-placed Pentyrch at Marespool (mouth-watering!), our 2nd XI travel to Pontarddulais whilst the ‘A’ XI go west, to Drefach.