Ystradgynlais RFC News & Results

Ystrad cricket report V Winch Wen

Winch Wen v Ystradgynlais – SWCA Div 5 – 24th May 2008

League leaders Ystrad came crashing down to earth in their first away fixture of the season when they were comprehensively beaten by Winch Wen in what can only be described as a horror show.

On a sunny yet blustery afternoon, skipper Martin Griffiths started the day well by winning the toss but that was one of the few highlights of the day.

Opening bowlers Tom Jones and Luke Owen both bowled well with good control forcing both openers into false strokes on a good batting surface. In fairness to both bowlers they made the conditions look more difficult than perhaps they were and were somewhat unlucky not to get more success than they did. The initial breakthrough was made by Owen when opener M. Richards left a delivery than cut back in and took the top of the off stump leaving the home side  12 -1.

All-rounder Alan Webb came to the wicket and proceeded to slice and edge his way into the game with Owen forcing two false strokes when the batsmen was on 17 when firstly his slash outside off stump flew through the outstretched hands of Eddie King at gully and then next delivery the same shot but by another two feet above the vain attempt of King trying to redeem himself for the earlier miss. This half chance was to later prove costly.

After 25 overs the home side found themselves somewhat fortuotously on 90-1 and the away side were hopeful of keeping the score down to a chaseable target.

With a change in the bowlinng at the rugby club end saw the introduction of last week’s Gold Award winner Bradley Williams. Unfortunately this week was not his day as he sprayed the ball all over the place and it was only thanks to some agile keeping by Johnny “Fingers” Williams saw the number of byes conceded only reach 13. At the other end Jones had finished his excellent spell of 15 unchanged overs and Emyr Laurence was introduced to the attack but he too alongside Williams was taken to the cleaners by Webb who after scratching his way to 50 accelerated to his 100 in no time at all as both bowlers were punished severely for a series of deliveries that were too short, too wide or simply too full in length. Laurence eventually trapping Webb LBW for 114 as he tried to smash the young spinner out of the ground. The pair conceding 136 off their 23 overs in what proved to be a difficult second half of the innings.

With the home side well set at 204-5 with 4 overs left, the slog fest began with Kelvin Thomas and Byron Gray smashing their way to a final score at the close of the innings of 255-5 a daunting target but one that should have held no fears on what remained a good batting surface.

In reply, Ystrad a disasterous start as they lost opener Matthew Phillips for a duck playing back to a ball that did nothing. He was quickly followed by King for 10 bizarrely stumped by an unfortunate ricochet off the wicket keepers pads onto the stumps as he momentarily lost balance and Bradley Williams for 12, lbw to a straight delivery. Dai Thomas the successful bowler on all 3 occasions. After the dismissal of Lee Morgan to a tame caught & bowled, captain and vice captain came to the wicket in an attempt to rectify the damage but this was in vain too as the crucial wicket of Jones went when he had scored 19 also to a tame return catch to S. Morris. “The Doctor” came and went in a blink of an eye and at 56-6, Griffiths was joined by Dane Clancy who looked understandably nervous on his first XI league debut prodding at any straight delivery glad to have survived until the next one.

The pair put on 36 valuable runs when Winch Wen brought on Webb and he made the breakthrough when he bowled Griffiths with one that nipped back slightly down the slope taking the outside of off stump leaving Ystrad on 92-7; the game was lost but could the young tail stage a reguard battle to stave off defeat. The answer was no but some entertaining shots made for some lively cricket as Luke Owen played himself in then smashed a six over deep mid wicket before next ball was foolishly bowled as he danced down the wicket with the grace of a rhino.  Fingers came in and top edged a six down to fine leg before he too was bowled playing an overly ambitious stroke. Amongst this mayhem Clancy had started to relax and came to the party with a flurry of strokes that saw him race to 27. The final batsman Emyr Laurence arrived and with no pressure smashed bowler Thomas straight over his head for 4 before he too suffered the same fate as others before him, being bowled going for a shot that simply wasn’t on. Clancy remained undefeated on an excellent 27 and Ystrad were all out for 139.

Ystrad will hope that this performance is a one off and return to form next week away against undefeated league leaders Felinfoel.

Match Result

Winch Wen 255-5 (50 Overs) A. Webb 114

Ystradgynlais 139 All out (43.3 overs) M Griffiths 39, D. Clancy 27 not out D Thomas 13-3-30-3 / S Morris 10-3-27-3

Ystradgynlais Team: M Griffiths (capt), T Jones, J Williams (wkt), L Owen, D Clancy, L Morgan, C “Doc” Jones, B Williams, E Laurence, M Phillips, E King.

Gold Award Winner: A Webb (Winch Wen)

Winch Wen 26 pts Ystrad 5 pts.

“The Ghostwriter”