SULLY-BASED Barry Wanderers travelled to Pontnewynydd for their 2nd XI fixture in good spirits, having marched to the top of the table with recent wins over Bridgend and Newport.

Skipper Barnes, sporting a new haircut, went out to the middle and won an important toss as the forecast was for rain later in the afternoon.

After putting Pontnewynydd in to bat, Barnes was hoping for quick wickets and the opening salvo of Evan Davies, playing his first 2nd League game of the season, and veteran Dave Morgan didn’t disappoint.

A combination of good bowling, loose shots and good catching (the Wanderers didn’t drop a catch all afternoon) meant that the opening bowlers took 7 wickets between them, which left Pontnewynydd reeling at 32 for 7 and firmly on the back foot.

In such a strong position the Wanderers change bowlers of Ashton and Tucker kept the pressure on, and only R Roberts showed any resistance with a Boycottesque innings of 2 not out off 58 balls.

However, Ashton deceived Heward into a rash shot playing on, and then had Bond smartly stumped by Barnes for a duck to leave the hosts teetering on the brink at 43 for 9 – which soon turned into 47 all out as Tucker bowled a great inswinger to add to his two catches.

Pontnewynydd only managed to bat for 27 of their 45 overs and this led to the Wanderers being able to go for the win before mother nature intervened.

With news coming in from Hayes Point and the Swalec Stadium that rain had stopped play in both games, it was essential that the Wanderers gained momentum from the off and with Barnes and Thomas opening the batting they had the in-form duo for the job.

Skipper Barnes ensured it was a straight switch around with the rain expected, and it was a matter of whether the Wanderers could score the runs before the heavens opened.

Barnes attacked from the off with the left handed Thomas a little more cautious on a very slow pitch.

The home side, as expected, had men around the bat and it was the experienced Bradley who had Barnes bowled for 8 having yorked himself.

Tim Sanders, coming in at number 3 for his first game of the season, looked settled but with runs coming at 2.7 an over off the first 10 overs, it was time to crack on as skipper Barnes gave the signal to get on with it as the dark clouds loomed over the mountains. Almost immediately Thomas tried a big heave and was caught and bowled. This led to a promotion up the order for Rob Tucker and in he strolled with his 3lb 4oz monster bat, and proceeded to use his weapon of mass destruction.

The weather by now was dark and gloomy and it was touch and go for the Wanderers (a scene similar to Karachi some years ago when England beat Pakistan in darkness).

However, Tucker was unfazed and proceeded to hit Heward for two 6s and a 4 through mid-wicket to win the game as the players rushed off the field for cover as the heavens opened.

Another over and it could well have been abandoned so great credit must go to Tucker for his big hitting and overall contribution both on and off the pitch, which has been instrumental in the Wanderers' success this year.

Pontnewynydd 47 all out off 27.2 overs (extras 10). E Davies 4-20, D Morgan 3-18, M Ashton 2-4.

Barry Wanderers 51 for 2 off 13.4 overs (R Tucker 21no, T Sanders 12no). R Bradley 1-3.

BWCC win by 8 wickets, BWCC 25 points.

Dock View Auto Centre man of the match Rob Tucker.

Barry Wanderers v Pentwyn (Hayes Point 1.30pm start).

MIDWEEK LEAGUE

ON a sweltering evening, the Wanderers took on local rivals Dinas Powys, and on winning the toss elected to bat.

The in-form partnership of Ed Sherriff and Paul George got the innings off to a cracking start with some fine boundary hitting and excellent running between the wickets.

Soon after the 50 partnership, George departed for 22, bringing Stu Jones to the crease to face his current Saturday team mates.

Sherriff continued to pile pressure on the Dinas attack before falling to a superb one handed catch for 44.

This started a middle order collapse with the Wanderers falling from 72 for 2 to 110 for 9 thanks mainly to some fine bowling by Ali and Zaman.

However, James Griffiths came to the crease and promptly dispatched a lovely 6 and with Stu Jones playing intelligently at the other end, the Wanderers’ innings gained some much needed late momentum closing all out for 140.

The Dinas innings got off to a slow start thanks to some excellent tight bowling from the Wanderers’ opening bowlers.

Andy Fenton in particular giving nothing away and his excellent bowling was rewarded with an early wicket thanks to a brilliant diving catch by stand-in wicket keeper Paul George.

As Fenton and Beckett picked up a couple of wickets apiece, only Ali provided some resistance. This was, however, broken with the introduction of ‘spin-king’ Griffiths.

As Cole picked up the wicket of Coughtrey the contest was effectively over with Dylan Williams picking up the final wicket leaving Dinas all out for 73. An excellent effort from the Wanderers' bowlers.

The Sully Inn man of the match was Andy Fenton for an excellent 2-15.