High fives for Penarth XIs (From Penarth Times)

High fives for Penarth XIs

IT WAS a clean sweep for Penarth Cricket Club last weekend, as the Seasiders recorded five victories in five matches.

The 1st XI kept their slim title hopes alive with a six-wicket victory at Tondu, while the 2nd XI are still on course for a Bank Holiday Monday winner-takes-all title decider with St Fagans, after defeating Tondu by eight wickets and Pentyrch by nine wickets.

There were also good results for the 3rd and 4th XIs, who won by four wickets and 69 runs respectively.

Stand-in skipper Richard Skone lost the toss at Bryn Road and Tondu elected to bat, but on a dust bowl of a wicket the Tondu batsmen were never able to get on top of the Penarth attack.

John Vaughan-Davies and Peter Ingram bowled well early on for no return, but the run rate rarely got above two runs an over.

Gareth Davies provides another seam option and bowled a good line and length in his four overs.

The pitch dictated that spin was the order of the day and Skone led the way as he picked up 3-17. James Docherty with 3-30 and Mark Thomas 1-20 (with a mention for Jack Parkinson who seems to be making a habit of making difficult catches look easy) were also in the wickets.

Nick Morgan's ever -mproving leg-spin was unlucky not to pick up a wicket and it was Vaughan-Davies who collected the other Tondu wicket as the home side finished on 150-8.

Vaughan-Davies then set about the Tondu attack with some vigour and, along with Jonny Hughes, had soon rattled the score past the 60-run mark.

Hughes fell for 18, JVD went soon after for 44 and Nick Morgan (10) and James Docherty (8) both failed to see the side home.

But the result was never in doubt as Skone (18 not out) and Peter Goodfellow (30 not out) guided Penarth to an important victory.

EASY WIN

Back at Penarth, the 2nd XI made light work of Tondu as well. Tondu managed just 160 all out, as John Clogg, Andy Prickett, Neil Stephens and Robert Crimp got among the wickets.

In reply, Peter Docherty hit 77 and Ian Summerfield fell for just 2, but Tom Sidford, with 63 not out, steered Penarth to a comfortable victory.

It was a similar story on Sunday, as Mark Thomas took 6-19 to reduce Pentyrch to 153 all out.

Again, Docherty and Sidford made a bright start, before a misunderstanding saw Docherty run out for 27.

Sidford made amends by going on to record a second consecutive unbeaten 50 and Matt Thomas batted superbly for his 58 not out.

Wickets to spare

The Thirds made light work of Crumlin, with Richard Hastings being the real difference between the sides.

Three wickets, and an excellent batting display saw Ishy Akhtar's team home with four wickets to spare.

BEST SCORE

Phil Ward's 4th team also seem to be hitting form at the end of the season, as they racked up a season's best 238 against Crumlin.

Greg Morgan hit a six in the first over to set the tone. Vaughan Aitkin scored 70, Alex Cox hit an impressive 40 and skipper Ward chipped in with 38.

The wickets were shared around, and there was nearly a hat-trick for Dafydd Pritchard, but unfortunately the magic third delivery turned out to be a very slow wide.

TEAMS

Teams for Bank Holiday weekend:

1sts v Sudbrook (h): D Ricketts, J Hughes, J V Davies, R Skone, P Ingram, J Docherty, M J Thomas, M A Thomas, R Morgan, N Morgan, P Goodfellow.

2nds v Sudbrook (a): D Stevens, R Crimp, T Sidford, P Docherty, J Parkinson, G Davies, J Clogg, R Bromiley, N Stephens, A Prickett.

3rds v Blaina (h): 1.30pm start, meet 12.40pm: T Crimp (Capt), I Summerfield, U Mohammed, R Cox, A Chilccott, H Morgan, M Sadler, Z Gehlan, I Humpage, R Goodfellow, S Newman.

4ths v Blaina (a): To be selected from: P Ward, J Ward, N Hutchings, J Davies, T Parkinson, S Lewis, A Drew, C Poole, D Dehaarty, M Campbell, R Morgans, H Morgan, A Cox, V Aitkin, G Morgan.

1sts v St Fagans (a): D Ricketts, A Jones, J V Davies, R Skone, P Ingram, J Docherty, K Maddox, M A Thomas, R Morgan, N Morgan, P Goodfellow.

2nds v St Fagans (h), from: D Stevens, R Crimp, T Sidford, P Docherty, J Parkinson, G Davies, J Clogg, R Bromiley, N Stephens, A Prickett, Z Gehlan, M Slugg.