Back-to-back wins puts Dinas Powys CC on track

Lowly Abercarn were this week’s visitors to Bryn-y-Don, and must have regretted bowling first on an unusually uneven wicket.

Despite demons in the pitch, the Villagers posted a more than competitive 222 all out off their 45 overs, with Geoff Colley (64) and Jason Harries (47) the main contributors.

Huw Marks gave the innings late impetus with a whirlwind 24 to all but carry the Dinas Dad’s Army over the boundary line for tea.

Andy Ford and Steve Bussell would have been pinning their hopes on something a little stronger than orange squash and coffee at the mid-game break, both having picked up injuries likely to rule them out of bowling.

The former has pulled more muscles than a South Coast cockle picker but still yearns for an over or two of in-swinging bouncers – while Bussell has recently returned to form.

With Wilson and Pike immobile, Dinas Powys relied heavily on Colley to provide the energy from his customary slip.

And so it proved, as two catches each from Compo, Matt Bloxham and Huw Marks stopped the Abercarn reply from gaining any threatening momentum.

A flurry of boundaries interchanged with wickets saw the visitors slump to 85 for 7, before a late rally rose the score to 159.

A fine 10 over spell from Gareth Marks proved the catalyst, Sundries yielding the day’s best figures of 4 for 43.

Some late order hitting was brought to an end by Wilson off the bowling of Bloxham to give the Villagers a maximum 26 points.

Tougher tasks lie ahead but Dinas Powys First Team are fighting hard to resurrect hopes of an unlikely promotion challenge.

SECONDS

ELSEWHERE along the M4, Dinas Powys Second Eleven took on Pontymister with hopes of tightening their grip on the Division One top spot.

A bowling-strong side, short of several regular faces, were last week led by seminal dresser Mike O’Donovan – fresh from Doc Brown’s time machine.

But it was the Villagers who were wishing they had gone Back to the Future, as the opposition’s curious overseas signing bludgeoned their attack to all corners.

A rapid 61 from mystery man Shami threatened to take the game away from Dinas Powys, before John "Meat Feast" Lee pouched a steepler on the boundary.

From there on in, the beleaguered Villagers hauled themselves back into the match but the damage, to a certain extent, had already been done.

Having rattled along to nearly 8 an over, Dinas Powys did well to cut the Pontymister charge on 232.

In a game reduced to 40 overs – because the home side said so – only John Clogg and Dani Zaman came out with any real plaudits.

Roy "Chubby" Coughtrey struggled to find his length while Upinder Singh took a shining to the adjacent wicket.

Under-15 Connor Hetherton picked up the vital wicket of "Bobby" clean-bowled, when others around him were getting carted.

Zaman, by far and away the pick of the Dinas bowlers, returned stand-out figures of 7.4-1-23-6 that were only cut short by a lack of accountancy skills.

Faced with a challenging target, the Villagers began brightly under the watchful guise of Rich Morgan and Ian Dury.

A partnership of 102 in 19.5 overs was brought to an end when Wales’ 38th sexiest man hit the ball to cover and called "yes" – leaving the karaoke king stranded for 39.

Hello, good evening and Morgan departed caught for 44 a few overs later, setting the scene for a cameo from Zaman.

But horn-filled hundreds are rarely followed up and it was left to Lee to see the Villagers home.

Sadly, a quick-fire 23 was not enough as Dinas collapsed to 193 for 9 off their 40 overs.

Kamikaze Coughtrey lost his footing mid-wicket while Ram Vinnakota struggled with anything waist-high.

In the end, it was left to John Clogg (22no) and Mike Lowe to guide the Villagers to the close – and deny their vociferous opponents maximum bowling points.

HAWKS IN junior ranks, Dinas Powys Under-15s had a busy week as three games and an evening training session threatened to deprive J.Guy and Statto of a social life.

But the teenage tribesmen did their coaches proud against three of the league’s toughest opponents.

Up first on Monday were Welsh Asians, who hit the Hawks for 162 for 3 on the Common. Tidy spells from Josh Clogg, Guvinder Dhesi, Will Hume, Matt Coughtrey and Josh Madge ensured respectability in the easier of the batting conditions.

In response, the mini Villagers struggled to an impressive opening attack of spin and pace – which accounted for several earlier wickets.

In truth, only skipper Alex Vowles kept his head above water en route to a fine 26 not out – eclipsing his previous best of 25 against Sully in the previous match.

Together with trusty straight bat Dhesi, Vowles led his Hawks to a respectable 68 for 7 at the close.

But there is no rest for the wicked, and a day later the Hawks were at it again – this time to Cardiff Gymkhana at Heath Park.

Buoyed by the travelling supporters’ club of messrs Madge, Lewis, Vowles and Clogg, the Villagers began brilliantly – reducing their high-flying opposition to a meagre 11 for 5.

A wonderful display of catching aided a tremendous opening burst from Josh Clogg, who had taken 4 for 2 by the end of his second over.

But as with all good things, the Hawks’ dominance waned as the incoming Gymkhana batsmen got smaller.

Youthful exuberance saw anything short of a length dispatched to the boundary – via several sets of hands, legs and knees – as the home side rallied to 118 for 9 off their 20 overs.

A valiant response saw the Hawks up with the rate for 6 overs, before the bright start presented by Dan Lewis and Jack Preston (17) evaporated mid-innings.

Cometh the man, cometh the captain – and despite another top knock of 18 from Vowles, the Villagers fell 28 runs short on 90 all out.

Josh Madge ended unbeaten on 8, while there were shades of Brian Charles Lara in one or two Clogg cracks.

It was the one that got away for the improving Hawks, but a real confidence boost nonetheless.

EAGLES

LATER on Thursday, the Under-15 Eagles took on a strong Pentyrch Golds side at Bryn-y-Don. Nearly all of Pentyrch’s players were county or regional representatives, so a tough match was in prospect.

Skipper James Hiscocks won the toss and inserted the opposition. Tight bowling from openers Reuben Mitchell and Clogg restricted the Pentyrch batters, and only a couple of big overs saw them to 126-6 in their 20. Pick of the bowlers was Clogg with a fine 3 for 17.

A big chase was made harder when Dinas lost opener Preston to his first ball, but Matthew Todd-Bennett and Tom Brookfield steadied the ship. Buckets with 17, Brookfield 13 and Malachai Corrigan 18 were the mainstays of the Dinas innings that eventually ended on 90 after 20 overs. Not the win they were hoping for, but a respectable performance against a very strong side.

Against Cardiff Casuals on Sunday, a Dinas team bursting with juniors performed admirably in the summer sun. Will Hume, Jack Fleckney, Josh Madge and Jack Preston all chipped in but it was senior mainstay Todd-Bennett who stole the show with a brilliant 89 not out.

Despite defeat, the Village proved its junior credentials with a bright future ahead.

This weekend sees the visit of touring Indian side Jayashree CC, who lock horns with a Dinas elect on Sunday from 2pm. See www.dinaspowyscc.co.uk for more details.