BARRY West End CC faced Barry Athletic CC on Sunday, September 21.

The West End were entertained by old friends and foes Barry Athletic at the Barry Oval last Sunday. The West End won the toss and opted to bowl first.

The West End opened with the duo of Tommy Miller and Jason Thomas, against the Athletic’s openers of Ashley Baker and Paul Murphy. Both Miller and Thomas bowled tightly to restrict the openers scoring. Miller should have had a wicket early doors, when Baker was dropped at cover.

The Athletic reached 35 for no loss after ten overs, and it was Thomas who found the first breakthrough for the West End, when Murphy edging to the slips, a great one-handed dive to the right from Steve Oram at first slip, departing for 13.

Jophin Regi joined Baker, while a change of bowling from the West End saw Mark Ellis and Rhys Hatton come into the attack.

Both Baker and Regi played some excellent shots to help accelerate the scoring rate for the Athletic. The Athletic reached 99-1 after 25 overs. The second wicket came shortly after when Ellis trapped Regi LBW for 32. Richard Eastman joined Baker at the crease Baker and batted smartly to tick over the scoring. A final change of bowling for the West End saw spin twins Steve Oram and Nye Lane come on to bowl.

Several tight overs from both Oram and Lane brought the next wicket for the Westies, when Baker, probably in two or more minds about which shot to play, chipped a ball back to Oram to depart for a well-made 68. Dafydd Frost joined Eastman at the crease but Oram soon picked up a second wicket when Frost was caught by Jason Thomas departing for ten. The Athletic were 145-4 in the 36th over. Wesley Baker was number six for the Athletic.

Oram picked up a third wicket when he drew Eastman down the wicket to be stumped by Henry Dawson for 18. Glanmor Williams now joined W. Baker, but tight bowling from Oram and Lane in the final overs saw the Athletic finish on 153-5 from 40 overs.

After the tea break, the West End opened with Henry Dawson and Rhys Howell. The Athletic opened there bowling attack with Dafydd Frost and Allen Mansfield. The Athletic found their first breakthrough in the third over, when Dawson departed for 12, edging Frost behind to Regi. Mark Williams joined Howell at the crease as both Frost and Mansfield continued to bowl economically to restrict the West End to 27-1 from the first ten overs.

Frost picked up his second wicket in the 11th over when he bowled Howell for 12. Ben Collins came in next to join Williams at the crease as while a bowling change from the Athletic saw the introduction of Richard Eastman and Ashley Baker. The pair continued the tight bowling, and then Eastman picked up the third wicket for the Athletic when Collins was caught by A Baker at cover for two. The West End were 43-3 after 17 overs.

Steve Oram joined Williams at the crease as number five. Another bowling change saw Neil Holmes and Paul Murphy bowl for the Athletic. Murphy got a wicket in his second over when Williams was stumped by Regi for a great knock of 31. Mark Ellis joined Oram as number six. In the next over, Holmes bowled Oram for 18, to leave the Westies 85-5 after 30 overs. Rhys Hatton joined Ellis at the crease as number seven. Ellis scored freely to help up the West End scoring rate. A bowling change saw Mark Rees come on to bowl alongside the returning Frost. Rees with his third ball picked up a wicket when Ellis was caught at deep mid-wicket by A Baker.

Pat Cowley joined Hatton as number eight. West End required 36 to win from four overs. Cowley adjusted quickly to the scenario and scored freely. Wesley Baker was brought on to bowl and bowled Cowley with his first delivery for a quick fire eight. Tommy Miller joined Hatton and immediately found the boundary twice in two balls put pressure on the Athletic attack. With 15 required from the final two overs, the requirement was cut to ten to win off the final over. A Baker, Athletics captain brought himself on to bowl the this over, but some intelligent batting and quick running put pressure on the field allowed the West End to come out winners with only one ball remaining.

A great day’s cricket was had by both sides. A remarkable comeback from the West End thrilled all associated. Players from both sides returned to the West End Social Club after the game. Thanks to the Baker family for preparing teas and to Steve and Debs Dite for once again feeding all involved at the club.

Barry Athletic 153-5 (A Baker 68, J Regi 32; S Oram 3-19, M Ellis 1-29) Barry West End 157-7 (M Williams 31, R Hatton 25*; D Frost 2-24, R Eastman 1-17) RH/ACM