Dinas Powys CC entertain Llantwit Fardre and Mumbai side Jayashree (From Penarth Times)

Dinas Powys CC entertain Llantwit Fardre and Mumbai side Jayashree

8:10am Thursday 2nd August 2012 in Sport

DINAS Powys 1XI entertained Llantwit Fardre on Saturday at Bryn-y-Don in a crucial Division 3 fixture.

Skipper Ian Southwell won the toss and elected to bat on a dry wicket which looked good for batting. Gordon Hannah and Mark Elliott opened the batting for Dinas and got off to a superb start, with boundaries struck to all parts, including a huge six from Hannah over square leg.

Dinas raced to 90 for 0 off 15 overs, and looked set for a score in excess of 300. However, soon after reaching a flowing 50, Hannah was bowled and replaced at the crease by Stuart Jones. Jones soon got into his stride and the score continued to progress serenely before Elliott was out lbw for a fine 41.

Southwell came and went, and the Dinas innings continued apace but was frequently punctuated with wickets, and Dinas were all out in the 41st over for 236 which, given the conditions and the wicket, was inexcusable. Fully rested from a few weeks in the sun, Ruth Clogg prepared another wonderful tea and Dinas took to the field knowing they would have to bowl and field well to come out on top.

Matt Bloxham and Gareth Marks opened the bowling for Dinas and after a solid start for Dinas the Llantwit openers began attacking. The score raced along before the off-spin of Jones struck to remove one of the dangerous openers.

Lewis Clarke had been brought on from the other end and he once again bowled an immaculate line and length, and from 123 for 1, Llantwit collapsed to 148 for 6, with Clarke (3 wickets), in tandem with Jason Harries (2 wickets), turning the game the way of The Villagers.

Some sporadic late hitting caused some concern, but Bloxham and Jones wrapped things up, Bloxham finishing with 3 wickets and Jones with 2.

Dinas finished with maximum points, and Llantwit Fardre finished with none after their 2XI forfeited the reverse fixture, much to the disappointment of all 2XI players.

All in all a good day for the 1XI, but they made hard work of it.

Dinas Powys CC would like to thank The Huntsman Restaurant for their continued and long standing support of the cricket club and for sponsoring this week’s 1XI match ball.

SUNDAY

ON Sunday Dinas entertained a young side from Mumbai who tour the UK every year. This has become an annual fixture in the DPCC calendar, and is eagerly awaited.

After a rainy morning the skies cleared and the sun shone. The tourists, who only arrived in the UK the day before, won the toss and elected to bowl first. The youngsters of Jayashree bowled a tight line, and the Dinas batters were patient. Runs were hard to come by, especially against a varied spin attack, and boundaries were hard to come by.

At one stage it looked like just over 100 might be a good score, but thanks to a solid unbeaten 39 from Dinas skipper for the day Gordon Hannah, the score reached a respectable but probably below par 140. We've said this a few times but Ruth Clogg's teas just get better and better - and in honour of the day's guests, bhajis, pakora and Bombay potatoes were an additional feast.

On full stomachs the Dinas players took to the field and the young Jayashree batters took to the bowling.

They started like it was a T20, and raced away helped by a couple of dropped chances. However the opening pair of John Clogg and son Josh Clogg reigned them back and each took two wickets apiece.

Thereafter, it became more attritional, but the batting side were always just ahead of the game. Dinas kept taking wickets, but despite 3-19 and a late flurry of wickets for Dani Zaman, Jayashree held on to win by 1 wicket.

Thanks to Wayne Spear and Mark Hughes who sponsored the match ball.

FIXTURES

Next the 1XI are at home to Whitchurch Heath, 1pm at Bryn-y-Don, with the 2XI away to Whitchurch Heath. The 3XI play Cynon Valley on The Common.