MOCHDRE CRICKET CLUB

2ND X1 REPORTS & SCORESHEET

JULY

Saturday 1st July Llangollen v Mochdre Rained Off

Saturday 8th July Mochdre v Bala

Mochdre's 2nd XI remain rooted in the basement slot in Division 3 and will be disappointed to have seen victory slip from their grasp at home to Bala 1st XI. Mochdre's total of 130 for 7 was built on a well-struck 33 from Mark Williams, and useful contributions from Albie Woods, 17, Bob Gazeley, 13, and Neil Campion, 10. The latter stages of the innings were enlivened by the welcome return to Saturday cricket of former 1st team captain Peter S Williams who showed many of his old touches in an excellent 31 including two sixes, receiving enthusiastic support from Clifton Robinson, 11 not out. Penetrative bowling from Bob Gazeley, 2 for 16 off 12, and Frank Richards, 2 for 28, put Mochdre in the driving seat early in the Bala reply. At 76 for 6 a rare win seemed on the cards, only for Rhydian Edwards, 36 not out, and Ken Crump, 20 not out, to rescue the position for Bala with an unbroken 55 partnership in just ten overs.

Saturday 15th July Carmel v Mochdre

The yawning chasm of the fourth division beckons Mochdre's 2nd XI who enter the second half of the season needing to start winning and winning well if they are to remain in Division 3. For the first time this season skipper Neil Campion faced the problem of who to leave out as his side travelled to face Carmel, but still returned with a six wicket defeat and a meagre points haul. Mochdre's total of 162 all out was built on solid knocks from opener Alun Evans, whose good form continued with 53, and No 4 Frank Richards with a hard-struck 54. Together they added 117 for the third wicket before disappointing batting saw the last eight wickets tumble for 32 runs as Carmel seamers Darren Timothy, 5 for 31, and Ben Morgan, 3 for 31, whipped through the later batsmen. The Mochdre bowling lacked penetration as Simon Swann with an unbeaten 79 anchored the Carmel reply of 166 for 4, although skipper Neil Camp ion provided his usual big-hearted contribution with 1 for 24 off 11 overs.

Saturday 22nd July Mochdre 2nds v Northop 2nds

Mochdre groundsman Keith Elphick has provided a series of superb tracks for the millennium season, and so it proved again as another rip-snorting climax closed Mochdre 2nd XI's Division 3 clash with Northop 2nd XI. 487 runs were scored at an average of 5.4 runs per over, only to leave Mochdre despondent as Northop picked up the ten runs they required from the final over to carry them to a four wicket victory off the final ball of the game. Batting first, Mochdre racked up a season's best 243 for 9 illuminated by a magnificent century from No 4 Mark Williams, whose 109 came off 110 balls and included 4 sixes and 15 fours. Williams dominated a fourth wicket stand of 131 with Frank Richards, 34, before Bob Gazeley, 30 not out, boosted the final total. Seven Northop bowlers were used but only Billy McGauty, 5 for 33 off 12 overs, was able to stem the rush of runs. McGauty was to the fore in the Northop reply cracking 49 in an opening stand of 85 with Huw Williams, 68, who went on to add 74 for the second wicket with Joe Jones, 55. Manfully though they struggled, the Mochdre bowlers were unable to keep the wickets falling. Skipper Neil Campion picked up 3 for 56 off 12, but even the usually prolific Bob Sugden, 1 for 75 off 12, suffered as the wicket resisted his left arm spin. With 46 runs still needed off the final five overs Mochdre scented victory, but, with wickets in hand, Northop's Mark Allman, 25 not out, and Richard Turton, 24 not out, blasted their side to its last ball success.

Saturday 29 th July Pwllheli v Mochdre 2nds

The season's biggest puzzle has been why Mochdre 2nd XI, with bags of talent and great team spirit, are languishing at the foot of Division 3. Lack of confidence could be the answer and this can only improve after they picked up their second victory of the season, producing a performance full of character to defeat hosts Pwllheli 1st XI by five wickets. Having elected to bat on a friendly track, Pwllheli were never allowed to dominate despite six batsmen establishing themselves with scores between 17 and 35. Bob Gazeley's deceptive medium pace brought him 3 for 36 off 12 overs, receiving stalwart support from skipper Neil Campion, 2 for 32 off 12, and veteran spinner Bob Sugden with 1 for 38 off 12 as Pwllheli grafted their way to 169 for 6 off 45 overs. Opening bat Alun Evans provided the solid bedrock of the Mochdre reply, mining his rich seam of form for a well-crafted 66 including nine boundaries. Captain Campion chanced his arm as a pinch-hitting opening bat, a gamble that was amply rewarded as his gem of an innings resulted in 49 runs off just 16 scoring strokes. Despite a short flurry of wickets, Bob Gazeley completed an excellent all-round match with an unbeaten 30 as Mochdre passed the Pwllheli total for the loss o f five wickets. Mark Pengelly was the pick of the Pwllheli bowling with 2 for 32 off 9 overs.