Alex Protheroe’s unbeaten ‘A’ XI went to Dyffryn this afternoon (17th), and left with a home semi-final spot booked for Sunday, 7th August!
Today saw them triumph in the quarter-final of the SWCA T20 Shield competition!
Batting first, Dyffryn were restricted to 105-9, thanks to the team effort of bowlers Kaps (2-13), John Blyth (2-19), Alex (1-32) & Harri Turner (4-13). In reply, the ‘A’ XI raced to their 7 wicket victory in the 15th over! Experienced campaigner Tony Dowrick laid the foundations with 24 (4 fours & a six) at the top of the order. After Tony’s job was done, man of the match Harri (34no, 2 fours & 3 sixes) and Jac Greenwood (15no, 1 four & 1 six) saw their team home with time to spare! The ‘A’ XI’s opponents early August will be either Briton Ferry Town or Baglan.
Meanwhile, at Pontarddulais, Ryan Aingworth has proudly lead the 1st XI to the Welsh Cup semi-final at Marespool on 31/7, when they will take on Connah’s Quay from North Wales!
With regular Glamorgan 2nd XI players, Jeremy Lawlor, Cameron Herring & Lukas Carey on board, Pontarddulais elected to bat first, hoping to put the game beyond their visitors by tea. It was not to be. Ryan employed 6 bowlers to thwart the strong “Bont” batting line-up who were soon in trouble at 28-2. Dan Lewis-Williams had claimed both early scalps.
On a couple of occasions, the home side threatened to break away but MCC’s bowlers remained determined throughout the 40 overs. The stats say that DLW (2-14 from his 8 overs), Max Phillips (1-44), Jack Straw (3-42) & Matt Shepherd (1-23) did the damage as Pontarddulais finished on 168-8.
However, the entire XI played their part in restricting our hosts to a fraction over 4 runs per over – keeper Ieuan Rosser took two catches & two stumpings, Shep brought off a run-out and the wicketless captain & Luke Brown conceded a mere 38 runs from 12 overs between them. Heroes all! Bont 168-8 from 40 overs.
After tea, it is fair to say that Pontarddulais themselves had cause for optimism at times. All of our top five batsmen got into the teens, scoring valuable runs for their team, but any threatened progress was stifled along the way, as the 1st XI reached 84-5. But DLW, batting at four, was not out…7no in fact, when former captain Chris Nelson joined him. These two proceeded cautiously in a semi-final direction as, ball by ball, they were steadying the ship – decent running here, the odd four there and the tide was gradually turning in favour of Ryan’s Men.
After 29 overs, the 1st XI score read 130-5…an unbroken partnership of 46. A few sixes were struck as well and, at the start of the penultimate over, it was all over. DLW remained unbeaten on 58 (3 fours, 3 sixes) whilst Nelly was out just one run short of the end, after a fine innings of 33 (3 fours & 1 six). He and Dan had figured in a quite brilliant match winning stand of 84! MCC 172-6, a magnificent win by 4 wickets!