James and his magic bat!
7:00am Thursday 4th September 2008
BARRY Wanderers entertained good friends the Cardiff Casuals for a friendly game at Hayes Point last Sunday. Skipper Fenton lost the toss and was invited to field on a typically cool and cloudy afternoon.
Opening bowlers Peter Beckett and Luke Denning did well on a benign track, but with no success.
Mark Ellis was first change and he soon got things going with a cracking one handed caught and bowled to dismiss Gough.
Ashton at the other end was offering his usual dogged up and downies the odd one slow, the odd one slower and he accounted for Swain first, then the prize wicket of skipper John Furnham for a useful 37, finishing with Ryde for 1.
Jamie 'All Rounder' Keir was asked to fill in for a few overs and bowled with great variation, taking 3 for 30 off an eventual 7 overs. Ben Collins was unusually accurate and returned 6 overs for 7 runs, with one wicket and 4 maidens. Luke Denning bowled beautifully and finished the innings off bowling Lewis for 1. The Casuals finished on 145 all out off 38 overs.
After the usual excellent and legendary Wanderers' tea prepared by Mike Apron and presented by tea-lady Hassett, BWCC set about their task. Darryl Griffiths opened with Gareth King and it was the former first to go, trapped in front lbw for 7. King soon followed bowled by a pearler that moved many an inch for 14.
Tim Sanders and Mark Ellis compiled an excellent stand of 87 to turn the match in BWCC¹s favour. However, with Ellis on 49 his eyes lit up and he missed a straight one probably distracted by the copious Ouzos the day before!
Sanders followed soon after for 33 and the game swung back to the Casuals.
BWCC needed 36 runs off the last 8 overs. Skipper Fenton continued his fine form with the bat, returning his 20th duck in 3 seasons that's 6 this year! Ben Collins whacked 2 fours in his 9 and it was all down to the last over. 9 were needed. Luke Denning called for a run only Olympic Gold Medallist Usain Bolt would have completed and was run out by about 16 yards!
Beckett joined Jamie Keir at the crease Jamie was now on a useful 14 not out, and 7 runs were needed off the last 2 deliveries. The penultimate ball was delivered by Foot and the advancing Ginger Monster smashed it to Cow Corner for 4.
So, 3 off the last ball needed to win. Big Foot came to the crease and Jamie Keir the Legend that is turned it into a half volley and deposited in the tree at Cow Corner for a huge 6, thus winning the game for BWCC by 3 wickets. All in all a superb game of cricket and played in the very best of spirits.
This followed 2 more beatings on Saturday with both the 1sts and the 2nds being consigned to relegation this year in what has been a disappointing season and in essence a step up too far.
A weakened 1st XI due to lack of availability were beaten by Brynmawr by 90 runs.
The 2nds, vs Abertillery, were put to the sword by the away team skipper who batted majestically for 120 not out, assisted by 11, yep that's right, 11 missed chances by BWCC fielders a loss by 5 wickets.
With the Wanderers players looking forward to a gentle tour down in Newquay, there is one more weekend of cricket beforehand to improve the already decent size of the tour fine fund!