By John Guy

‘NOTHING lasts forever’ according to Echo & the Bunnymen, and so it was inevitable that Dinas Powys Cricket Club’s winning streak would at some point come to an end.

But it did so on Saturday with a bit of a whimper, as a disappointing performance by the First XI led to a surprise defeat at the hands of Whitchurch Heath Seconds.

Batting first on a remarkably dry pitch given the overnight deluge, Whitchurch began brightly and continued their energetic approach right the way through their 30 over innings.

In a slightly reduced match, the visitors rarely fell below six-an-over owing to a mixture of dodgy fielding, one or two dodgy decisions and the now customary donation of sundries.

Tidy spells from Will Palmer and Gihan Fernando did not get the returns they deserved, while Dinas’ Dynamic Duo of Stuart Jones and Olly Hurley both picked up three wickets apiece.

The latter was particularly strong towards the end of the innings, bowling an impressive series of fuller length deliveries to reduce Whitchurch to 184-9 off their allocated overs.

But if Dinas had been indebted to Batman and Robin bailing them out earlier in the season, this week’s run chase was more Chas and Dave by comparison.

A disastrous start saw the home side crumble like Jo Hurley’s brownies to 57-6.

There Ain’t No Pleasing chief scorer Ken Hannah after a performance like that, albeit a heroic cameo from Casey Hughes, who scored runs for both brothers, saved the home side’s blushes and got Dinas within 23.

A belligerent 77no off just 52 balls showed one or two others what was possible as the Villagers closed on 161-7.

Skipper Alex Vowles proved once again that he’s no Rabbit with the bat, and a run-a-ball 29 from number eight suggests a promotion might be in the offing.

Defeat leaves Vowles’ men third in the league, still well within touching distance of the top two promotion places.

Elsewhere and with the Seconds rained off, Gareth Storey’s Third XI travelled to Bridgend without the ‘big boys’ who had conspired to lose against nine men the week before.

As it was, a much more appropriate Third Team pulled off a superb win against all odds – proving that with a whole-hearted and committed display, anything’s possible.

Batting first, Dinas posted 119-9 off their reduced 35 overs, with a fine 50 for Miles Wilton the major contribution; Nilo’s half-century coming off 75 balls, including 10 fours.

Nathan Waite’s patient 26 was just what the A&E doctor ordered later in the innings, as the Thirds battled their way to a three-figure score that always competitive in damp and dreary conditions.

Special mention also to fan favourite Mave Wilton whose cover drive for 4 was reminiscent of a young David Gower, although that’s where the similarities end.

In response, Bridgend were well on course for victory but from 40-1 they slumped to 62-7; skipper Storey the demolition man, with four middle-order wickets breaking the back of the home side’s batting order.

Wickets for Rhys Bradley, Hywel Owen, Andy Hurley and Waite tidied things up as Bridgend fell short by 20 runs in an entertaining encounter played the right way.

And last but by no means least, a word on the Dinas midweek XI who continued their fine form at home to a strong Cowbridge XI fielding a number of First Team stalwarts.

Batting first on a slow wicket, Dinas struggled early on before Simon Le Quite Good (28) and young Jack Fleckney (21) started to find their feet.

A welcome flurry of boundaries continued with Stuart Jones (16) and Casey Hughes (25), before Nathan Waite (12no) made good work of rotating the strike towards the end.

Defending their 128-6 off 20 overs was always going to be challenging, but the effervescent Dinas outfit applied themselves well, bowling as a unit to limit their opponents to just 104-8 in response.

Wickets to Hughes, Jones, Ken Barlow and Rhys Lloyd, coupled with an impressive fielding display and run out from Fleckney, keeps the Midweek momentum going as Dinas prepare for this week’s trip to Penarth.