Not a great day results wise for the Club yesterday (17th), but a few guys did themselves no harm at all in terms of performance!
At Clydach, home skipper Sam Davies elected to bat first on a glorious day, a good pitch and an M4 of an outfield. Sam Davies duly scored a classy 120 (17 fours & 2 sixes) and Sam Davies skippered his XI to victory by 67 runs in front of a good crowd!
However, either side of his superb innings, it was MCC’s Sam (Langley) who had fun in the sun, as his masterclass of straight and full-length seam bowling in two spells at the start and finish of the home club’s knock truly stood out! Two wickets in his opening burst plus four more when he was called upon at the end will stay in the memory for many a year to come.
Bowling straight, Sam L took two early wickets (bowled & lbw) to reduce Clydach to 36-2, Sam D 15no. Jack Straw (1-27 from his 10 overs) was the pick of the other bowlers in the middle of the innings whilst Sam D was marching on. He was crucially dropped on 97 and was eventually dismissed lbw by Captain Aneurin Norman.
By now, our Sam Mumbles was brought back on for his second spell! In a remarkable turnaround, 201-4 rapidly became 224 all out as Sam took 4 more wickets, 3 clean bowled and 1 caught behind: 6-27 from 9 overs!
4.5 runs an over in those conditions was of course “gettable”, subject to a good start and steady progress throughout the innings. Such ingredients of a good chase were lacking on the day, however, as MCC were bowled out for 157 with 9 overs to spare. The middle/later order trio of Greg Thomas (41, 5 fours & a six), Sam (27, 6 fours) and Joe Holland (28, 4 fours) briefly gave their team reasons to be cheerful but Clydach stuck at it and were worthy victors.
At Marespool, and batting-wise, it was a similar story in that our 2nd XI’s total of 230-7 v Pontardawe was largely owing to a few batters. Ed Moger (with 81 batting at 3, 14 fours), Jon Brearley (62 at 5, 9 fours) and Dan Board (25no at 7, 3 fours & a max) ensured there was some respectability on the scoreboard at tea. Indeed, Ed & Jon added 131 runs between them for the 4th wicket!
After the interval, “Ponty” crossed the line with 5 overs to spare, despite our men taking 8 wickets en route. Well chased, “Ponty”!
At Underhill Park, our ‘A’ XI were seen off by visitors Briton Ferry Town. Opener James Slack (possibly the finest strimmer of lengthy grass in Wales) top-scored with 38 (5 fours) in MCC’s total of 150 all out. Mention should also be made of tail-waggers Lewis Francis (28no, 3 fours & a six) & Rehan Joseph (20, 3 fours) who contributed a stand of 40 at the end.
BFT were not to be distracted, though, as a six wicket triumph was theirs with 13 overs remaining.
As always, the full picture can be studied, analysed and dissected at https://mumbles.play-cricket.com/Matches.
Next Saturday, our 1st XI return to Marespool to meet ‘n greet Dafen (match sponsored by property people Astleys of Mumbles), the 2nd XI wander over to Landore and the ‘ A’ XI play at Pontarddulais.