COMING off the back of a real nailbiter the previous week, Dinas Powys Cricket Club's 1st XI travelled in confident mood to top-of-the-table Lisvane, who had lost their first game of the season the previous week.

Without skipper and opener Ian Southwell, who was ill and was replaced by Brychan Tudor, Dinas won the toss and stand-in captain Gordon Hannah, electing to bat, made a solid start with fellow opener Nathan Piddock. Following the departure of the latter for a solid 21, Matthew Todd-Bennett soon found his feet and he and Hannah moved the score along before the skipper fell for a patient 23 and was replaced by Asad Rizvi.

Rizvi and Todd-Bennett played positively and comfortably until the latter was bowled by one that rolled back on to his stumps for 27. Tudor joined Rizvi at 85 for three and struggled to find any real timing as Lisvane's spinners kept things tight. After a period of stagnation, Rizvi started to cut loose as Tudor scratched around. Rizvi fell trying to up the tempo for a well made 34 with the score on 134 for four and 10 overs to go. Jack Preston joined Tudor and added real positivity and intent, running hard between the wickets and hitting some much-needed boundaries. Preston was finally undone for 26 and, with a few lusty blows from Jeff Mitchell, Dinas passed the 200-run point to finish on 215 for seven. Tudor was finally undone in the final over for 32.

Knowing they would need a good start with the ball, Dinas were given a big lift when, after the first two balls had gone to the boundary through the slip cordon, Stephen Bussell took two wickets in two balls. Bussell got another in his second over and, with a wicket from Piddock, Lisvane were in trouble at 15 for four. A solid partnership of 60 put the home side back in the hunt until Rizvi removed Baker (37). A second 50-run partnership put the initiative back with Lisvane, but, following two quick wickets for Lewis Clarke and Piddock, Dinas were back in control with Lisvane at 168 for eight.

Alex Curry appeared to wrest the initiative back for the home side with only 12 needed, but man of the moment Bussell came back to claim his fifth victim, bowling Curry for an excellent 44. In the following over, Clarke finished the job, with Dinas winning by 12 runs for the second week in a row.

STILL SLIDING

Looking to halt a poor run of form that has seen them slide from second to seventh in Division 2 of the Glamorgan & Monmouthshire 2nd XI competition, Dinas Seconds hosted fifth-placed Newbridge at Bryn-y-Don.

Newbridge elected to field on another blisteringly hot day and the openers made a rapid start before both fell in quick succession. Dinas tightened the screw on a pitch that was misbehaving, with some balls popping and others keeping low. At one stage it looked like Newbridge might struggle to 150, but a couple of determined knocks by the middle order allowed them to close on 190 for nine. Saajan Ali was the pick of the Dinas bowlers with three for 41, while John Clogg (two for 17) produced a typically miserly spell.

Dinas would have fancied chasing 190, but, for the second week running, lost early wickets and got bogged down, scoring less than three an over. Mike O'Donovan top scored with 24, but never got going, whilst wickets fell at the other end. At 46 for three off 19, some inspiration was needed. Once again it looked down to skipper Andy Ford, but he was the first of three Dinas batters to perish for 21 the ball after hitting a boundary. At 30 overs, it was 94 for six and looking a tall order and three overs later it was eight down. Only a determined 23 by Gareth Storey, showing positive intent, enabled Dinas to get to 133 - a disappointing 57-run defeat.

CLASS SHINES THROUGH

Sunday's annual John Brain memorial game on The Common took a new twist in the shape of a "Seniors v Youth" clash.

Electing to bat, the Seniors were led by a fluent 51 from chairman Jason Harries, and a solid 57 from Ian Southwell. Simon Hiscocks chipped in with a well played 40 in a Seniors total of 199 for nine. Gareth Hodges and Alex Vowles took three wickets each for the Youth XI who had a good start in reply thanks to a career high 38 from young Jack Fleckney in a 50-run opening partnership with Luke Davidson (23).

Some veteran craft from the Senior XI soon slowed things down and wickets started to fall. A quick 40 from Youth XI captain Matt Todd-Bennett got them back in the game, but three wickets for Southwell, and two for club secretary Simon Hiscocks, soon ended proceedings, with the youngsters being bowled out for 159.

Bragging rights remain where they should be - with the Dinas Powys Seniors!

The club would like to thank Burnett Davies with Easton for their support.

Next matches - Saturday, August 2 - Firsts v Whitchurch Heath (Bryn-y-Don, 1pm); Seconds v Croesyceiliog (away); Thirds v Cross Keys (home). August 3 - DPCC v Furry Chequebooks (Common, 2pm) and St Fagans six-a-side (all day).