It's four in a row for the Penarth XIs (From Penarth Times)

It's four in a row for the Penarth XIs

IT was a full house for Penarth CC last weekend, when all four teams recorded re-sounding victories.

The 1st XI won by 131 runs, the 2nd and 3rd XIs both won by eight wickets and the 4ths won by five wickets.

And there was double joy in the 2nd XI, as 16-year-old Tom Sidford scored a superb maiden century, with 104 not out.

At the Athletic Field, the 1st XI strengthened their hold on second place in the league with a comprehensive win over Tondu.

Having been asked to bat first, skipper Dave Ricketts led from the front as he scored 90 runs in the searing sunshine.

He was ably supported by Nick Morgan, who scored 68, and John Vaughan-Davies, with 33.

John Bussey did the damage for Tondu as he picked up 4-32 in 8 overs, as Penarth posted a mammoth 259-7.

Tom Dilnot-Smith opened the bowling for Penarth and was unlucky not to take a wicket in 10 straight overs which went for just 22 runs.

Vaughan-Davies (1-26) made the initial breakthrough and then added a glorious direct-hit run-out, before Robert Crimp (1-29) also got in on the wicket-taking action, to leave the visitors on 68-3 after 21 overs.

Penarth's spinners then took over, with Richard Skone and James Docherty both on fine form.

Skone bowled his usual miserly spell of 10 overs 1-18, while Docherty was able to prosper from the turning wicket, collecting 5-20 in his 10 overs.

It was left to Nick Morgan to collect the final wicket, as his leg-spinners accounted for Martin Evans, to leave Tondu 128 all out.

At Tondu, David Stevens' undefeated 2nd XI put in a solid bowling display to restrict the home side to 209-7.

Andy Prickett was predictably the pick of the Penarth bowlers with 2-20, with Neil Stephens (3-43) and Gareth Davies (2-33) also among the wickets.

However, the story of the day had to be Sidford's century. Having shown glimpses of his undoubted talent over the last 18 months, the youngster finally hit the big score he has been threatening.

Although sure and steady to 50, he cut loose after that and blazed the Tondu attack to all parts of Bryn Road.

He was partnered through most of his innings by Neil Stephens,who scored 40 and captain Dave Stevens (33 not out), who was there at the end to guide his young prodigy home.

The 3rd XI were big winners at home to Bridgend. Having bowled the opposition out for just 126, with Zia Gehlan (4-32), Simon Wilkinson (2-16) and Steve Newman (2-18) doing the damage, Ishy Akhtar's team then cruised home as Mark Sadler (41), Nick Hutchings (37) and Peter Goodfellow (32 not out) blasted the winning runs in double-quick time.

Meanwhile at Bridgend, an extremely youthful but experienced 4th XI completed the Penarth full house. Stand-in skipper Dave Slugg orchestrated proceedings beautifully and James Davies (4-27), Tom Parkinson (2-30) and Dafydd Pritchard (2-25) were in the wickets as Bridgend were bowled out for just 111.

In reply, Richard Healy hit 37, while Vaughan Aitkin showed newly arrived Flynn how it should be done as he hit three 6s and 2, to score a rapid 20.

Penarth will be hoping for the same good fortune this week as the 1st and 2nds look to consolidate their excellent League positions against Sudbrook and the 3rd and 4th XIs look to continue their good form against Caerphilly.

Teams

1st XI v Sudbrook (a): R Skone, J Hughes, J V-Davies, N Morgan, J Docherty, M J Thomas, R Morgan, T D-Smith, K Maddox, T D Smith, M A Thomas.

2nd XI v Sudbrook (h): D Stevens, R Bromiley, T Sidford, N Stephens, P Edwards, M Hitchin, M Slugg, G Davies, J Clogg, A Prickett, I Humpage.

3rd XI v Caerphilly (h): I Akhtar, N Hutchings, M Sadler, I Summerfield, U Mohammed, M Allen, D Sadler, S Wilkinson, Z Gehlan, R Goodfellow, from: P Ward, J Ward, D Slugg, G Thomas, S Pulpaka, R Healy, M Glover, V Aitkin, A Crimp, C Lewis, A Chilcott, T Parkinson, R Latts, G Hall-Williams, J Davies, D Pritchard, R Morgans, J Crimp, H Morgan, A Cox, A Drew.

3rd XI v Blaina (a): I Akhtar, R Morgan, M Sadler, I Summerfield, U Mohammed, M Allen, D Sadler, S Wilkinson, Z Gehlan, R Goodfellow, S Newman.