Thomas Carroll Midweek Cricket League: Former Glamorgan star signs up (From Penarth Times)

Thomas Carroll Midweek Cricket League: Former Glamorgan star signs up

7:20am Thursday 2nd July 2009

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LISVANE have pulled off a significant coup with the signing of former Glamorgan captain and ex-England opener Steve James, who will guest for the Thomas Carroll Midweek Cricket League leaders on an occasional basis until the end of the season.

Not only is the signing of James fantastic news for the Cardiff based club, it is a real fillip for the league and his inclusion in the ranks has been warmly welcomed by the member clubs, and many of the players will be looking forward to pitting their wits against a modern Glamorgan legend.

True, Mr James has hardly picked up a bat in anger since retiring through injury five years ago, but nevertheless his presence on the field will hopefully inspire his team mates and opponents to improving their efforts.

Not that they’d need it following a comprehensive 44 run win against Cogan Chiefs in the latest round at fixtures.

Snehasis Tripathy’s 109 containing 8 sixes and 7 fours drove Lisvane to the season’s highest score of 193-6, Dave Sadler took 2 for 20 and completed a fine all-round display with 31 as Cogan’s reply ended at 149 for 8, Rob Williams returning 2 for 8.

At a sun blessed Barry Island, Tynewydd Inn openers Rhett Jones (73) and Dave Goodway (46) added 142 for the first wicket before a mini-collapse saw the innings close at 148 for 5. Jason Thomas too 2 for 22 for West End Tight opening bowling and a flurry of early wickets saw West End pegged back, though Rhys Howell was harshly adjudged to be out from what appeared to be a no-ball and the Inn eventually completed a comfortable 44 run win with debutant Les Ingram collecting a wicket.

Special mention must go to 16-year-old Tom Francis who completed a tidy if wicket-less spell with the ball, held on to two fine wickets, scored an excellent run a ball 41 and starred in an unbroken 41 run partnership with Gethin Davis for West End.

Fontygary collected two valuable points with a 10 run win against Barry Athletic. Batting first Fonty scored 155 for 8, Christian Bruce top scoring with 33. Pick of Barry bowlers was A Ellis who took 2 for 21.

In reply Athletic managed 145 for 5.An excellent knock of 49 from Simon Phillips and 28 not out from A Ellis almost got them home but an excellent bowling change in the 19th over brought on Lewis Doel which produced 2 wkts for 2 runs.

Special mention for David Sylvester, another of the league’s over 60 super-vets who rolled back the years and returned figures of 1 for 17 off 4.

At Llantwit Major Cavaliers James Snelson won the toss and opted to bat; he and Julian Griffiths put on 33 for the first wicket before Snelson fell for 10 going for another big hit.

Shane Callard and Griffiths put on 66 for the 2nd wicket before Callard was caught behind by Dewi Williams who then discarded the gloves and came on to bowl taking 3 wickets for 29 runs in unison with Martin Powell who took 2 for 31.

The Llantwit Cavs innings closed on 148 for 6 with Griffiths carrying his bat for a fantastic 87 not out.

The Creigiau innings got off to a shaky start with Dewi Williams getting caught by Julian Griffiths off the bowling of Dave Cheal with the score on 5. Wynn Innes followed in Dave's next over courtesy of a fine catch from his son Jonathan with the score on 24.

Martin Powell, a constant thorn to the Cavs over the years was next in and helped carry the score on to 65 before Phil Bartle was caught by James Huxtable off the bowling of Julian Griffiths for a fine 31. Griffiths, 3 for 14, clean bowled the next 2 batsmen, Huxtable had a run out and Gareth Morgan bowled another batsmen to have Creigiau struggling on 99 for 7 after 15 overs.

Dewi Evans 21no and Martin Powell 59no hadn't read the Cavs script as an entertaining game finished at the end of the 19th over with yet another boundary from the hard hitting Powell.

Finally, Pentyrch, thanks mainly to Dan Coomber’s 60, opened their season with a 7 wicket win against Barry Wanderers who were bowled out for 125.

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