There was a full slate of fixtures in the Willow League this past week; current League leaders Chartered Trust took on Cardiff Bay Barbarians. Batting first, Trust made solid progress, with Huw Liddell hitting 20, Obaid Saddique 19 and Steve Holton 12. Trust looked set for a mammoth total before an extraordinary spell of bowling from Darren Mogridge, as he returned 6-11 from his 4 overs. Trust were indebted to a late 23no from John Waters to boost their total to 130-9. Early wickets from Aqeel Iqbal (2-23) and Waters (2-13) saw Trust on their way; then with Dale Owen claiming 3-21, good contributions from Dart (17no), Walker (17), Mogridge (16) and Jones (14) were in vain as the BaaBaa’s closed on 94-7.
Cardiff Casuals were also amongst the runs, rattling up 148-4 against Rhiwbina. Mark Stephens (21) and Will Goad (28) led from the front, with a solid middle order contribution from Manish Vyas (32). A late flurry of 37no from Kim Swain, from just 12 balls faced, was key in setting the stiff target. Clayton (13) and Dominic Cain (22) led the reply, but tight bowling by Vyas (1-5) and Andy Hood (2-8) lest the target looking bigger with each over. Rhiwbina closed well short of their target on 92-5.
South Glamorgan Education were looking for a big win against Cardiff Cavaliers if there were to have any chance in chasing down Chartered Trust at the top of the table. John Sparks clipped 30 and Nick Allen 28 at the top of the order. Simon Tomlinson added 25 and Peter Lansdown 21no. Cavaliers had to blame a profligate attack which conceded 25 wides for a final Education total of 141-3. Andy Powell grabbed 2-9 to shake the top order before Jimmy Marchant (30) and G Chapman (34) staged a rally. The introduction of Tom Bailey changed the face of the game as he ran through the Cavaliers with 5-7, and with Steve Parker adding a brace, Cavaliers were dismissed for 105.
GE Healthcare recorded their second best total of the season, led from the front by an elegant 52no from Gordon Stephenson, coupled with 22 from Ian James, 29 from Simon Riddick and a brutal 7 ball 19 from lee Gibbs against British Airways. The innings closed on 132-2, with R Johnson the sole wicket taker. In reply BA rode their luck early on as Chris Davies (33) was dropped 3 times, as the opening wicket posted 53. Jon Barlow (2-17) led the fightback, but with Johnson (40) pushing the ball well BA always seemed in the game. Two wickets in two balls from Gareth Gibbs seemed to have nailed BA’s coffin. Needing a seemingly impossible 50 from the final 5 overs, BA took advantage of some slack fielding to pick up runs. Jon Green cracked 20 and Chris Lakin (14no) and Neil Eggar (10no) as they reached their target with just 2 balls to spare.