Penarth Cricket Club come unstuck in the mud

Unfortunately a week of wet weather had left its mark on the playing conditions with both the wicket and outfield affected, and the hosts coped better to run out winners by 46 runs in a low scoring encounter.

Despite a dry morning the field remained wet enough for a delayed start and reduction to 30 overs per side but in truth little changed during the delay and conditions were barely playable as the game got under way.

Penarth CC 10k runners

Penarth’s seamers found the going particularly challenging with wet run ups making life difficult and Cowbridge had added 45 before the left arm spin of Mark Thomas accounted for Yodhin Punja.

The same bowler accounted for the dangerous Ben Wright, stumped by Jack Thomas, before Tim Miller picked up the wickets of Matt Smart and Chris Willey to leave the home side at 101 for 4.

Penarth asserted control late in the innings as Miller collected a third wicket and Will Skone bagged three of his own and Cowbridge closed their innings at 118 for 8.

Losing wickets in clusters has been a feature of Penarth’s batting in recent weeks and it proved no different here and the modest looking target was never in danger as the top order was blown away.

Firstly Jamie Hitchen went without troubling the scorers followed soon after by his partner Jack Thomas, both victims of Sam Russell. Ben Wellington, skipper Nick Morgan and Greg Cross all fell to the bowling of Smart, followed soon after by the returning Tom Sidford, bowled by Williams. A gritty effort from Skone was ended by Lewis Sevenoaks and the same bowler picked up the wicket of top scorer Miller for 24.

There were to be no tail-end heroics in the difficult conditions and the innings was wrapped up with the run out of Mark Thomas as Penarth fell for just 72.

The seconds were in friendly action against neighbours Dinas Powys and proved too strong for them running out winners by 10 wickets in a one-sided encounter.

Fielding first Penarth produced an immaculate bowling display as Aaron Noormohamed, Andrew Graveson and Rhys Mottram picked up a brace of wickets apiece in a Dinas innings of 88 all out with Hughes the top scorer with 13, and Kreshay Bharwani collecting his first second team scalp.

Penarth openers Jon Ellis and Naman made light work of the reply with a display of judicious and aggressive stroke play to finish 43 not out each and guide their team home in just 16 overs.

There was yet more local derby action on the neighbouring pitch as local rivals Barry took the spoils against the third team by 6 wickets.

In more rain affected conditions Penarth found the going tricky early on despite a gritty 28 from veteran Keith James. With Barry on top Sarvpreet Singh made an excellent counter-attacking 63 and Matt Frost 23, and they injected some impetus into the Penarth innings to steer them to 165 for 8 from their 40 overs.

Singh and Chris Mortimer grabbed three early wickets in the Barry reply to give Penarth some hope but it was to be short lived as the Barry middle order took control. None of the Penarth bowlers could replicate the successful efforts of the openers and Barry eventually cruised to victory with some five overs in hand.

The fourths were handed a difficult trip to play Panteg seconds, a team who would have provided opposition for Penarth seconds until last season, and gave a good account despite defeat by 55 runs.

Sean Clarke provided the backbone of the Panteg innings with 66 and Connor Curry made 39 as the home side threatened to run away with things in the early stages.

Neil Stephens showed all his experience to pick up 5 for 18 and Adam Akhtar collected two wickets as the home side were dismissed for a frantic 177 from just 27 overs.

Penarth found the chase a bridge too far as Panteg took control despite the best efforts of Dominic Dwyer and Robert Ashcroft at the top of the order.

Penarth were always behind the rate, despite Stephens completing an excellent day with 26, and eventually finished 122 for 8.

On Sunday a team of runners from the club who had entered the cancelled Cardiff 10k took part in their own socially-distanced event over the same distance around Penarth in support of the club’s chosen charity, Kidney Wales.

Some 33 runners of varying abilities, in a staggered series of small groups, took part in the run and raised more than £3000 for the charity in the process.

There will no fewer than 6 Penarth senior teams in action this week, a huge achievement for the club. The firsts will host Malpas, the seconds and thirds visit Newport and Newport Fugitives respectively, the fourths host Dinas Powys and the new fifth team will make a trip to Abercynon.

The sixth fixture of the weekend will be a Sunday trip to Southerndown to play Great Western.