ON SATURDAY, May 14, Dinas Powys 1st XI made the trip to Pontypridd to play visitors Llantwit Fadre in their South East Wales Cricket League Division 3 match.

Skipper Nathan Piddock called the coin toss correctly for the first time this season, and elected for Dinas to bat first on what looked a very good wicket. However looks can be deceiving and the wicket turned out to be very tricky as Dinas slipped to 16/3 with the low bounce proving very problematic for the Dinas top order.

Asad Rizvi did manage to adjust though, and he asserted himself on the game very quickly, punishing the bad balls on offer and keeping out the good ones. His runs kept the Dinas innings ticking over, and he found some key support in Lewis Clarke (22) as the pair rotated the strike.

Rizvi and Clarke took the score past 100, with Rizvi passing his half century on the way until Clarke was unfortunately run out to end a valuable partnership of 97 to leave Dinas at 113/4. Curtis Wingren joined Rizvi in a partnership of 45 until the former was bowled by one that kept low for 15.

Dinas then lost a couple of quick wickets as the push for quick runs in the final 10 overs commenced. Rizvi remained unmoved throughout for Dinas, keeping the scoreboard ticking over on his way to a maiden league century for Dinas, and his second in the week, making a very well made 104 in Dinas’ total of 178/8.

With the pitch deteriorating at a rate of knots, Dinas knew early wickets would be key in their pursuit of a first win of the season, but they proved hard to come by as Llantwit started strongly to get to 43/0 until veteran seamer Stephen Bussell broke the partnership. Matt Bloxham then took two wickets in an over to restrict Llantwit further to 57/3 as Dinas started to get more in the game and build a lot of pressure on the home side through skipper Nathan Piddock and Bloxham, who bowled maiden after maiden.

The introduction of spin by Dinas turned the game on its head, with Dani Zaman (3/24) and Gihan Fernando (3/25) combining to take the last six wickets to bowl Llantwit out for 128 and bring 19 points back to Dinas.

The 2nds attempted to get their first win of the season against Gymkhana at home. Batting first the villagers found themselves in immediate trouble at 2-2 before skipper Jason Harries and Josh Clogg secured things with a solid partnership before Harries went with the score on 68.

Clogg held things together before getting a good one when he was 48. Andy Smith (48) looked peerless and unruffled as he helped steer Dinas to 222 all out off the last ball. Unfortunately, decent though the score looked, Gymkhana got there with fuel in the tank, meaning it’s no wins from two for the 2nds.

The 3rd XI also suffered their second reverse of the season at Wenvoe against local rivals Sully Spartans. The opposition racked up 254-6, which was always going to be a tough ask, and 10 man Dinas could only scramble to 1590-8 in their 40 overs.

So it’s one win from six played for the villagers, who need to start finding some wins quickly, or this is going to be a long season.

Matches Saturday, May 21

1st XI home (Bryn y Don) v Crumlin 1pm

2nd XI away v Barry Town 12.30pm

3rd XI home (Common) v Abercarn 1pm