2nd May 2009
Briton Ferry Town v Hills Plymouth
(Second XI)
HILLS SECONDS PIPPED AT THE POST
Hills
Andrew Williams played
a dogged innings of 33, including three 4s and a six, but lost 3 partners along
the way. Following Owen’s dismissal, captain Phil Lewis fell for one and Aled
Walters for 0, all to the same bowler, A Shah. When Williams was caught by B
Probert off A Jones the end was in sight for Hills. Andrew Hargreaves was
caught behind for 1 and young Matthew Davies clean-bowled without scoring, both
wickets claimed by B Probert. Andrew Mortimer remained undefeated on 6 at the
end of the innings, the total being 109 all out from 42 overs.
In reply, Briton Ferry found the conditions equally
difficult to work with, and Matthew Davies claimed the wicket of D Hermon with
his opening ball, Dai Fowler taking the catch. Phil Lewis then chipped in with
2 wickets, bowling G Morris for 3 and catching L Probert himself. Opener R
Morgan and S Richards put on 32 for the fourth wicket, when Richards
was bowled by Andrew Hargreaves on 16. Wickets continued to fall, B Probert run
out by Dickie Bowen for 9 and D Jones bowled by Andrew Mortimer for 2, but the
runs were still slowly mounting. Andrew Hargreaves gave Hills hope of a victory
when he had A Jones caught by Dickie Bowen for 5, and then bowled the stubborn
opener R Morgan, who had stuck it out for 49 overs for his 30 runs.
The match
could have ended in a draw had the hosts not had an additional 8 overs to bat,
and this proved vital. The last 2 men, P Jones and A Shah took Briton Ferry to
victory, unbeaten on 18 and 12 respectively, but not before both were dropped
in Aled Walter’s last over, the bowler very unlucky to remain wicketless.
Pick of the Hills bowlers was Andrew Hargreaves, with 3 for
21 from 15 overs.
