South East Wales Cricket League

Sudbrook 1sts match cancelled

Divisions 6: Sudbrook 2nds (204-5) beat Upper Rhondda (200-6) by 5 wickets

SUDBROOK Firsts maintained top place in Division 1 without bowling a ball or swinging a bat in anger after their match was called off, writes Bob Cypher.

The Firsts were due to visit Cardiff Gymkhana’s council-owned ground but were alerted on Friday afternoon that the council had issued a no-play directive on their playing fields due to the heavy rain.

So while the Firsts watched the World Cup match being played at Cardiff on the clubhouse TV, the Seconds took the opportunity to maintain their own promotion challenge at Mill Lane.

Their visitors Upper Rhondda won the toss and decided to bat first, a decision they regretted almost immediately as they lost two wickets early on to smart catches by Matt Burton and Rob Supple, giving bowlers Iestyn Nelson and Paul Spicer-Adams encouragement.

The first dismissal, with only two runs on the board, brought Josh Baker to the crease and it was he who steadied the ship on the way to an unbeaten 131.

Baker played very well, although had two offered catches been taken, it might have been a different story.

As it was, Baker received little support on the field with only two players, Daniel Prosser (13) and Greg Bonser (23 not out) offering any real threat.

Prosser fell to a fine stumping by Richard Lund.

Bowler Adam Nelson picked up the best wicket of the day when he attempted to catch a fierce drive but could only divert the ball on to the stumps behind him, running out Richard Kelland.

Spicer-Adams finished his nine-over spell with 2-35 with one maiden with Nelson (1-28), Kai Taylor (0-28) and Supple (1-39) helping to keep Upper Rhondda at 200-6.

In reply, Neil Pearson and Steve Comins built an opening partnership before Pearson (27) departed.

Comins, returning to action this season following a year out with an Achilles injury, fell seven runs short of what would have been a deserved century, with Greg Shaw (37) and Matthew Burton (20) steering the home side to the brink of victory, with Lund and Supple at the crease to see them home.

Spicer-Adams was delighted by his team’s performance.

“We were never in trouble with Neil Pearson, Greg Shaw and Steve Comins easing us home,” he said later.

“That makes six wins out of six and 20 points clear at the top of Division 6."

Sudbrook’s Thirds lost by 72 runs in their Division 10 match at Cynon Valley 1sts.