SUNDAY, May 17 saw Barry West End CC travel to Pentrebach, to play Ystradfellte in a 40 over friendly.

Barry West End, captained by Henry Dawson chose to field first. The Westies opened their bowling attack with Tommy Miller and Dickie Eastman, the first breakthrough of the match came in the third over when Miller got M Griffiths to play a false shot to Rhys Hatton fielding at mid-off.

The catch, sealed Miller’s 700th wicket for the West End. Griffiths departed for one. Ystradfellte reached 38-1 from the first 10 overs of their innings.

Nye Lane, replaced Eastman bowling at the Pavilion End. Some economical bowling from both Miller and Lane helped curb the run rate in the next few overs, Neil Holmes replaced Miller at the Hoover Factory End.

The next breakthrough came in Holmes’ second over when he dismissed A Williams, Steve Oram with a great catch at point. Williams departed for 30. M Weathersby joined the free scoring B Sydney-Jones at the crease.

Ystradfellte were 65-2 at drinks.

After drinks, the batsman scored freely, Holmes picked up a second wicket in the 25th over when M Weathersby drove a ball straight to Mark Williams fielding at cover, Weathersby departed for 15.

N Spain joined Sydney-Jones at the crease. Lane picked up a wicket in his last over, bowling Spain for three. Lane was replaced by Rhys Hatton at the Pavilion End.

An expensive first over costing 13 saw Sydney-Jones get to 50. Ystradfellte were 111-4 after 27 overs. Glan Williams replaced Holmes at the Hoover Factory End.

Williams picked up the fifth wicket for the West End, when he had Sydney-Jones caught at extra-cover by Neil Holmes for a superb knock of 83. Ben Eastman replaced Rhys Hatton at the Pavilion End. R Warren and Udai saw Ystradfellte to the close of their innings finishing on 19 and 10 respectively.

Ystradfellte finished on 176-5 from their 40 overs.

After tea, Barry West End opened their chase of 177 to win with Henry Dawson and Rhys Howell. Great bowling from Udai and N Spain frustrated the opening batsman, with scoring shots scarce. The pressure told in the seventh over when Spain, who was swinging the ball, bowled Dawson for four. Steve Oram joined Howell at the crease.

C Tay and R Warren came into the attack for Ystradfellte, scoring shots become frequent, with the West End reaching 36-1 off 14 overs. The next wicket was picked up by Tay, when Howell was caught at mid-off by Udai, Howell departed for 25. Mark Williams joined Oram at the crease.

The West End reached 56-2 at drinks. The score rate picked up after drinks as the bowlers once again changed, with G Manning and A Williams now in the attack. The West End reached 110-2 by 30 overs, the same over Williams was caught at cover for 22 off the bowling of Williams.

Ben Eastman joined Oram at the crease, the bowlers were now L Boswell and M Griffiths. Eastman holed out to deep mid-wicket for four. The West End were 131-4 with six overs remaining.

Dickie Eastman joined Oram at the crease, Eastman launching a six off the bowling of B Sydney-Jones. Eastman was then bowled by Griffiths for nine. Glan Williams joined Oram at the crease.

Ystradfellte closed out the game with some tight bowling from Griffiths and Sydney-Jones. The West End finished on 146-5, 30 runs short of the target. Williams finished three and Oram with a fine 54.

A great day had by all.

Ystradfellte 176-5 (B Sydney Jones 83, A Williams 30;N Holmes 2-30, T Miller 1-18)

Barry West End 146-5 (Oram 54, Howell 25; N Spain 1-10, C Tay 1-5)

Ystradfellte won by 30 runs.