Match Report vs Chartered Trust 12th May 2026 @ Bryn-y-Don, Dinas (Skipper and report Steveo)

For the first time this season the Casuals returned to the (newish) home ground that we have come to love ( Wenvoe by the way, for those that knew it, currently has a slightly less manicured look than we were used to, so it is still a huge relief that we secured this alternate venue).

Despite clouds in the day the sun was beginning to peek through as Dan arrived early to set up the clubhouse, jangling a large set of keys, and even as the skipper arrived many of the keen oppo were parking up and getting ready for battle. The Casuals were a little more, casual, but we managed to get going just a little after six.
The toss was won by yours truly using an unusual app in lieu of a coin (always innovating) and the cry of 'Bat first' was welcomed by the team. Will was especially keen to serve and even volunteered to open which was gratefully accepted, with Rhys joining him at the other end.

Chartered Trust are a decent team with a few familiar faces in the squad and we knew we were going to play in a good spirited game.

Will and Rhys started well, Will kicking off with a single first ball, and with the strike rotating the first over garnered 6 runs and a wide. 2nd over went in a similar fashion and on the pair went, with bowlers Williams and Owen bowling well but not well enough to limit our openers. The pitch was doing weird things, with some balls leaping up, some staying low, and the reality of a lively pitch made the benign nets practise seem a long distant memory.
By the 6th over our pair had scored 41 between them with a good mix of singles, pairs and 4's each.

Over No. 7 brought about the first change in bowling (the format allows 4 per bowler but perhaps wisely the CT Skipper felt the batters were getting comfortable). It turned out to be a good decision as bowler three - O. Smyth - charged in with such enthusiasm that he ended up 'A over T' and thundered into the pitch face first. Blaming a hole adjacent to the stumps he nevertheless lucked out as Will defended the ball which popped up unexpectedly and offered a simple catch. With the bowler sprawled out on the wicket Will had to walk off, even though I was tempted to suggest a 'no-ball' ... but I didn't think 'collapsing bowler' was a good enough reason.
Mason Wilkes out caught for 19 of 15 balls bowler O Smyth

With some attempt to fill in the mighty crater that took down Smyth he struggled on, temporarily having an issue with his line, but sadly for us far too briefly as in the same over he then clean bowled Rhys who had looked in good form.
Davies bowled for 20 off 21 balls bowler O Smyth

Fear not dear reader as we had a brace of Greggs to bat at 3 and 4 (Little Greg, who is quite tall, and Big Greg, who is marginally taller). If we carried on at the rate we started we could look forward to a decent score. (regular readers will take that statement with the pinch of salt that comes as standard).
Left handed Greg P managed to keep the CT bowlers at bay for seven overs, facing 18 balls and scoring a worthy 22. Right handed Greg C however was less fortuitous and faced only 3, scoring a single and falling in the 9th over - again off O Smyth, first ball of his second over!
Cavanagh caught for 1 off 3 balls bowler O Smyth

Huzaifa in next, first game for the Casuals, and he looked composed at the crease. Adopting a defensive approach he was determined not to let the errant pitch catch him out and he defended 10 deliveries before taking his first single. First of only 3 sadly, as despite getting his eye in he was bowled by ... yes, O Smyth strikes again!
Ijaz out bowled for 3 off 14 balls bowler O Smyth

The long awaited debut of another shiny new Casual, Bruce Luxton in next, but he fared no better than Greg C; in fact slightly worse, as he scored his first Casuals duck off 3 balls. Welcome to the Casuals Bruce! Needless to say it was that bloody O Smyth that did for him, in his fourth and final over.
Luxton out bowled for 0 off 3 deliveries bowler O Smyth

You may have noticed that I have given Smyth the honour of an 'initial'. That is because he was not the lone member of that blighted family to persecute us that evening, as we also had 'J' of that nomenclature bowl his four overs. Meanwhile, Greg Penning had been toiling away quietly, keeping the batting together, until the 24th and very last ball of 'J' Smyth's allotted number bowled the steadfast Penning and ended his contribution of 22 runs.
Penning out bowled for 22 off 18 faced by J Smyth.

Skipper in next, scored a single off his first delivery, faced a couple more, scored a couple more, less said the better.
O'Reilly out bowled for 3 off 6 deliveries by Matthews. (An addtional edit - the skipper and report writer failed to include the one moment of genuine comedy in the game, namely the dismissal of who else but our dear leader Steve O. This occurred, as it often does, bowled, but the manner of the castling was relatively unusual, the CT leg spinner looping one down the leg side which Steve 'sensibly' watched pass him for a wide, only for it to rip back into leg stump with much swearing (from Steve) and laughter (from everyone else) on the sidelines).

At the end of the 16th we were 78 for 7 and the skies were darkening.

But with Liam, Finn, Dan and Nadders all padded up and looking eager there was still great hope.

Forster out for 1 off 5 bowled A. Williams
Hishon out for 1 off 8 stumped bowler Matthews
Lewis out for 0 bowled Matthews
Afzal DNB

Ah well. Finn had looked cautious, until he decided time was running out and charged down, to no avail. Dan looked like he had neatly edged one behind towards the boundary but when we realised he wasn't running it became clear the ball had 'edged' off top of stump, not the bat. Liam ... got bowled, as he predicted, when he saw the bowler that 'always gets me out'. Goffy offered him a pep talk.

Casuals all out for 80 off 19 overs including 9 extras.

We were a strong team on paper, both batting and bowling, but unfortunately for us we were playing on grass.
By the end of the 8th over CT were behind the run rate, but after that they weren't. Our bowlers did okay, but we all knew that 80 was not enough for a chasing team and they reached it in the 12th, losing only 3 wickets.
Dan didn't get carted for any sixes! Finn got a little lost with all the wide open spaces, green grass and blue sky but showed promise that he can convert from nets to the outdoor game. Nadeem also struggled with line a little but with his penultimate ball pinged the top of the stump for his wicket. Huzaifa was similar and also bowled a good ball for his wicket. Liam in the same vein but managed a first in his casuals career by getting a caught and bowled! And Greg Penning did well behind the stumps throughout the innings which gives us another keeping option, which is always welcome (although I look forward to seeing his bowling soon also).

Lewis Overs 4 Maidens 0 Runs 13 Wickets 0
Hishon Overs 2 Maidens 0 Runs 16 Wickets 0
Afzal Overs 2 Maidens 0 Runs 15 Wickets 1
Ijaz Overs 2 Maidens 0 Runs 15 Wickets 1
Forster Overs 1.4 Maidens 0 Runs 22 Wickets 1

Despite the loss it was yet again a chance to get some new faces out in the field and I am sure that in the season to come our new casuals will all establish themselves in the team and wins will come our way. A good game played in a good spirit and a pleasant time was had.
Special mention to Dan for dealing with all the clubhouse duties of unlocking / locking up, and to Goffy for turning up and scoring and making a surprisingly neat, thorough, tidy and efficient go at it. So different to his batting...

Pub chat was pleasant and unlike us, Southampton managed not to lose. There is always hope.

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