Season ends in defeat for Stags (From Barry And District News)

Season ends in defeat for Stags

7:30am Thursday 3rd September 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share

NATHAN Baker’s Barry Athletic 1st XI played host to league newcomers, Cardiff Gymkhana CC, in the final weekend of the 2009 Season.

Baker was still without Lee Morgan and Peter Hellyar as he aimed to close the season with a win, but it was Cardiff Gymkhana who won the toss and chose to bat first.

Barry began brightly as opening bowlers, Steve Jones and Jake Griffet, put the visitors on the back foot with some very tight overs, restricting them to only 70-3 from their opening 20 overs.

Mistakes were put right from the previous weeks, with catches being put down, as two catches were taken from the bowling of Steve Jones and captain, Nathan Baker.

Excellent fielding in the final 10 overs, along with some tight bowling from Steve Jones (14-1-65-3), Billy Usswald (13-0-45-2) and Nathan Baker (13-1-37-2) restricted the visitors to 197-8 from their 50 overs.

Legendary tea lady, Nicola Baker, continued the momentum for the Stags. She did it again, as she produced a magnificent set of teas to satisfy both sets of players and the officials.

Speculation in the ground suggests that this could have been Nicola’s last week with the Stags. However, a decision will be made at the club’s AGM at the end of the season.

The Stags were lifted by the chants of the packed out crowd of the Barry Oval, as the opening batsmen walked out into the middle, for the start of the second innings.

Unfortunately, the expectancy of the crowd was too great for the home side, as 3 wickets fell in the first 5 overs to restrict the Stags to only 19-3.

Wickets kept falling at regular intervals and batting performances from Damon Leake (40), Billy Usswald (26) and Nathan Baker (24) weren’t enough to bring victory to the Stags as they were dismissed for 161.

2ND XI CRASH TO DEFEAT

Martin Baker’s Barry Athletic 2nd XI travelled to league leaders, Penarth CC, where a win for the home side would see them crowned champions of Division One.

On a ‘pre-used’ wicket and in sunny conditions, Penarth won the toss and elected to bowl first.

The Stags were heavily boosted by the return of ‘Club Legend’, Steve ‘Chocco’ Jones.

The Barry opening batsmen began steadily as they hoped to see off the new ball without any casualties. Runs came from the bat when needed and the Stags were up and running with 31 runs coming from the first 12 overs.

Batsmen Steve Jones and Ashley Baker kept the runs flowing until the 18th over, when Baker was caught for 26.

The depth in the batting line up was not that great and when the top-order batsmen fell, there wasn’t much to follow.

Steve Jones (19), Peter Davies (33), Martin Baker (15) and Sam Johnson (12) all produced good starts. However, no-one was able to get that innings saving score and they collapsed to just 114-8 from their 50 overs.

After the tea break, Barry captain, Martin Baker gave some encouraging words to the players before they set out to defend their score.

The task was always going to be difficult and with the strength of the Penarth batting, Barry were always on the back foot.

Bowling performances from Martin Baker (4-2-6-0), Sam Johnson (4-0-12-0), Andy Ellis (6-1-28-0), Dominic Lack (6-0-47-1) and Neil Holmes (5-0-19-0) were unable to prevent the home side from cruising home within 25 overs as they won by 9 wickets.

With this result, Penarth have claimed the Division One title and promotion to the Premier Division of the South Wales Cricket League.

NIGHT TO REMEMBER

After their respective matches, both sets of players in the 1st XI and the 2nd XI of Barry Athletic CC enjoyed a barbecue and bingo night, to celebrate the end of another season at the Barry Oval.

Stag Sports News also announced, on Saturday evening, that 2nd XI skipper, Martin Baker has made the decision to retire from club cricket after 11 years at the club.

The Stag Army gathered in their thousands to pay their tributes to the Stag Legend.

The former skipper helped to guide the Stags up the divisions and on the brink of the Premier League, in 2007. He was captain from 1999-00 and from 2006-09 and was a great servant to the Stags.

Speculation continues to grow on who will be Baker’s replacement, with the favourite being Simon Phillips. However, there has been no confirmation.

• Print
• Email
• Share