Pwllheli Cricket Club News

Pwllheli youngsters grab 20 points at Llay

Ladies & Gentlemen – people have been heard to moan when England are playing cricket and they rotate their players as individuals leave the pitch throughout the innings for various reasons – well Lllay took this to a new level on Saturday, with their opening bowler leaving the game after bowling 10 overs to play football, only to return mid way through their innings to bat at number 4!  I ask you - is that right?

Pwllheli skipper Gower had experienced selection problems throughout the week with the Mad Carpenter being away on tour and Adam Williams also strangely absent so we arrived at Llay with two ten year olds in the team – Jack Gower & Morgan Williams.  Strangely this in itself caused some rumblings from club members who not present, seems like the skipper can not do right for doing wrong in this club!

On to the game – Gower lost the toss and was asked to bat.  Ben Jones & Robert Cooper started well and the score was ticking over nicely until Jones was bowled for 35.  This allowed the saviour of the second team – Nick Butterworth - to walk to the middle for his first bat of the season for the first team.  One ball later he was returning to the pavilion after receiving a nightmare of a ball that was straight and didn’t bounce.

The in form Rehman strolled to the middle to join the in form Cooper and soon both players were taking the attack to the rotating squad of fielders that was Llay!  Cooper eventually fell for an excellent 68 which allowed the ever so slightly out of form Chris Moore to join Rehman.  A couple of lusty blows from Moore and it was all over for him!

Rehman was still batting nicely at the other end when the other saviour of the second team, and specialist short leg fielder, Rowlands joined him.  Rehman passed the fifty mark and Rowland was bowled for 8!

The second head coach Williams marched to the wicket, keen to protect his batting average of 15, and as always proved that there is nothing better than true class and experience as he set about getting the score past the magical 200 mark.  Rehman, who this week appeared not to be injured in any shape or form, soon fell for a well deserved 69 which allowed tour bowler Rhys Griffiths a rare outing to the middle.  After having practised the back foot defensive shot for many hours prior to batting, it was disappointing to see him clean bowled playing, yes you guessed it, a back foot defensive shot!

 Skipper Gower, keen to protect his average of 15.1, joined Williams in the middle and Chris Moore who was by this time umpiring at square leg, settled down to 5 overs of dull blocking by both batsmen.   Gower however had other plans and set into the Lllay bowlers with a series of boundry’s including two consecutive sixes.   One shot too many allowed ten year old Morgan Williams to join the slightly older Neil Williams for the last over.

247 – 8 declared of 45 overs to gain the maximum batting points and enjoy tea.  Special note should be made of the triple layered sponge cake which was exceptional – as always enjoyed by the skipper and Griffiths.

The Llay batsmen started their innings cautiously (slowly!) apparently intent on survival rather than scoring runs.  Ben Jones bowled like a demon, moving the ball both ways and Chris Moore bowled with pace and aggression from the other end.  Jones was unlucky when the Llay skipper didn’t walk after gloving the ball behind and it was Moore who claimed the first wicket, well caught by Griffiths at point.

The introduction of Rehmen slowed the run rate still further and he was soon amongst the wickets – the surprise introduction of Ceiri Rowlands slowed the rate even further and he to claimed a wicket.  The returning football player for Llay batted for 20 odd overs for 2 runs (yes, that was 20 odd overs for only 2 runs!) before finally being bowled by Rehman.

The Llay umpire was becoming more verbal as the innings progressed – possibly frustrated by the total lack of run scoring – including outbursts directed at the Pwllheli keeper and umpire.

The recall of Ben Jones brought a couple of quick wickets but it was always going to be hard to dislodge batsmen who had no urge to score.  Ten year old Jack Gower took over the wicket keeping duties and gave a promising display whilst our other ten year old star, Morgan Williams, bowled a fine 4 overs for only 1 run.  And people said they should not have been playing!!!!

Somehow the Llay total struggled to 104 for 9 in 278 overs and the game was a draw.  20 points to Pwllheli, 5 to Llay.

In the bar afterwards, skipper Gower: “The sponge cake was exceptionally good!  It puzzles me why teams batting second do not attempt to get batting points – not doing so does not make for the most exciting game!  We batted exceptionally well today – fifties from Rob Cooper and Nadeem Rehman – and a nice little burst at the end from the experienced Williams, meant that we posted a good total.  Bowling was a challenge by the boys stuck at it and all bowled well. Its nice to get 20 points away from home –but it could so easily have been the full 30 points”

Pwllheli have one remaining fixture, at home this coming Sunday – and then they are away on tour.  Watch out Sussex!