26/07/14 - Penarth v Llanarth A steamy hot day in Penarth had both captains desperate to win the toss and bat first, thankfully for Llanarth skipper Heath did exactly that. Selection-wise the Trees welcomed back Raj Banaras and Old Harrovian Wyndham Hacket Pain added a touch of class to the team. Having chosen to bat Lomax and Baxter were required to make hay but both offered an early opportunity to the keeper though only Lomaxs nick was snaffled and A Dewfield was in early to help see off the testing early bowling. Neither batsman seemed at ease on a dry pitch that was offering some variable bounce and Dewfield departed with the score at 64, clean bowled by a useful inswinger. Baxter (50) punished the bad ball to the tune of ten boundaries but was otherwise unconvincing and it was no surprise when he slashed a square drive to point. Shortly afterwards the in-form Nowell got a nasty ball that popped on him and his leading edge was gratefully pouched to leave the Trees delicately poised on 109-4 and some work for the middle order to do. Heath and C Dewfield set about ensuring the Trees posted a good total, mixing quick running with the odd boundary, before the skipper perished with the 150 just having been raised. Then Powell in conjunction with C Dewfield hammered an excellent 48 partnership at better than a run a ball, the former stroking 25 from just 17 balls that included some wonderful cover drives to which he offered his own commentary to the Penarth fielders before he departed attempting another biff. C Dewfield had thus far been struggling for form this season but hard work in the nets allowed him to remain unbeaten on 43 at the close, a super knock full of hard hit positive strokeplay and rare timing that helped Llanarth post 206-6. Following a fine tea the Trees set about defending their total, which all agreed was a pretty good one given the variable bounce on offer. Banaras (3-17) was handed the new ball and struck early by removing the ever-chirpy Davies with a beautiful in-swinging yorker that kissed the outside of the base of leg-stump, the batsman once again failing to score the runs his chat suggested he would, then again if had done so throughout his career a Test call up would have been a formality. Banaras reaped further rewards in his sixth over picking up two wickets including the Penarth skipper first ball, to one that kept low, though he inexplicably delivered a wide with the hat-trick ball to earn a hat-trick avoidance fine. James (3-30) replaced Banaras and continued his own excellent form by ending the match as a contest in his second over by delivering a triple wicket maiden, firstly eliciting a miscued pull then castling two more batsmen with beauties as Penarth sank to 45-6. James was always at the batsmen demonstrating good pace and movement with occasional chuntering, though this was aimed mainly at his own corden of catchers whenever the ball squirted through the area uncaught or unstopped. Baker (36) provided some late entertainment for all with some fantastic shots that were hit with tremendous power, mainly from Powells (4-40) off-spin, but the Trees twirler had the last laugh by grabbing the last four wickets, including that of Baker to a super boundary catch by skipper Heath, to end the resistance at 108 all out. The victory gave Llanarth maximum points and a lift up to third in the table. MB PS: 16 tickets sold for the final t20 Glammy home match plus 3 of us who are member/season ticket holders meant an excellent social evening to watch Glammy qualify for the Q-Fs. Thanks to all.
Posted on: Sun, 27 Jul 2014 17:16:00 +0000
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