Llanhilleth Home Sunday 11th June
Llanhilleth 225 all out in the 38th over. S.Jones 43. M.Smith 26no. A.Harris 2-28. M.Knapp 2-29.
Oldbury 215 for 8 in 40 overs. J.Russell 70. I.Knapp 48. A.Harris 23. Extras 30!
Llanhilleth won by ten runs.
A highly eventful game with both sides in with a chance until the last two balls of the last over.
Llanhilleth's openers quickly warmed to Olbury's opening attack with 14 off the first over (sorry Derek!). Scoring at well over 6 an over with some big hitting, a massive total looked on the cards. Then tight bowling by Adam Harris and Mike Knapp slowed the run rate and wickets began to fall. They would have fallen quicker if Oldbury had not adopted the 'Teflon fingers' method of trying to catch a ball. Dropped catches by Jon Dyke (2), Bill Pearce (2/3?), Marc Preston-Allen (2) and Derek Garrett surely were an omen for topics of discussion in the pub afterwards. This game saw Marc Preston-Allen's baptism of fielding by Vic's Orchard which reduced him to his knees and even trying to stop the ball with his head. We also had Derek Garrett's impersonation of a squawking parrot when a drive smashed into his ankle.
Wickets did tumble, however, and had a controversial decision not to give a tail-ender out gone Oldbury's way, the visitors' total would have been 200. He stayed at the crease, and with his partner put on a frustrating 25 runs to reach a 225 total.
2-1 is not an unusual Oldbury score-line in reply to a big total - Bill Pearce optimistically going for two runs with Jon Dyke at the other end, but falling short. It was time to dig in, and Jim Russell and Adam Harris put on 85 with the momentum steadily increasing. The scoring rate slowed after Jim (68) and Adam (23) were dismissed, and the pressure for runs grew. Ian Knapp hit some lusty blows to keep Oldbury almost in touch but his departure (very unlucky - but another run out nevertheless) on 48 left Derek (hoppy) Garrett and Matt Pearce with just too much to do.
Oldbury's most impressive performance of the day was the teamwork involved in finding balls deep in the jungle deposited by Llanhilleth's Welsh whackers. (Final mention for Gerry Dyke - an unfortunate golden duck - was this the result of a brown envelope from his previous neighbours? - I doubt we'll ever know but he was seen accepting drinks in the Ship afterwards).