Week 8
There was some big hitting this past week in the Willow League, with current leaders Chartered Trust amongst the beneficiaries in their match against Eclipse Print. Bating first Trust were led from the font by Craig Mohring who blasted 92 aided by a patient 37 from Steve Holton. Eclipse did themselves no favours conceding 32 extras as Trust closed on a mammoth 198-5. Dave Nash grabbed 2 of the wickets to fall. Alistair Collyer (59) and Mike Williams (34) raised a century for the opening wicket, but once they were parted the innings fell away with Obad Saddique (3-11) and Tristan Hancock (3-21) cleaning up the tail. Eclipse finally dismissed for 145, to leave Trust sitting pretty on the top of the League.
In the chasing pack both Cardiff Casuals and South Glamorgan Education kept in touch with good wins.
Casuals racked up 163-4, with Kim Swain adding another half century to his season’s tally, John Furnham’s 32 was a key contribution at the top of the order. Jimmy Marchant (1-17) and M Twaits (0-10) were the pick of the attack. The Cavaliers reply was quickly in trouble as early wickets fell, skipper Marchant steadied the ship with 34 but it wasn’t until No8 Mark Simpson reached 14no that another batsman reached double figures, as Cavaliers closed on 97-8.
Education shot out a short-handed Consmen side for just 53, Andy Parry returning 3-2 and Nick Allen 2-1. P Harrison (14) and T Crowe (13) top scored. Consmen earned some valuable points by nipping out 3 wickets, but Education coasted to victory in just 10 overs, Tom Richardson leading the way with 20.
Rhiwbina kept themselves in contention for a Shield place as they held on in a high scoring match with Cardiff University Staff. Batting first, Rhiwbina’s Mike Street cracked 62 and Dai James added 33 in an opening stand of 97. P Holt contributed 23 as Riwbina totalled a imposing 150-3. Munday, Montgomery and Badham shared the wickets to fall. Llanrumney is noted for high scoring and Staff opener Snehasis looked set for a ton, before being run out for 96 as Staff chased 14 rus from the final over. Such was his dominance of the scoring that Max Munday’s 11 was next. Holt’s spell of 4-1-12-1 was a key contribution in Rhiwbina’s defence.