CRICKET – THE Bahrain Reza Hygiene Awali Camels touring team enjoyed another impressive performance in Wales, this time against the might of Pentyrch CC, voted the UK’s most hospitable cricket club in 2024.
The wonderful hospitality didn’t extend to their opening batters, however, who flayed the Camels’ attack to all corners of the picture-postcard ground in an opening partnership of 50.
Dave Starkie eventually found a way past the swishing bat of A Williams (20), while Tom Wooding’s zipping yorker did for H Williams (36).
The run-rate slowed as Camels skipper Charles Forward cleverly juggled bowlers and shuffled fielders. There were two wickets for Toby Haslam, another for Wooding, and one each for Guy Parker, Charlie Viles, Huw Caffrey, and Dave Hilton, not forgetting a sharp stumping for veteran wicketkeeper Dave Mason.
With the score standing at 150 and the last pair together, the Camels thought they were in for a walk in the park, but the Pentyrch tail wagged vigorously as the last pair added 40 valuable runs in just four overs.
Needing just under five an over, Camels openers Graham Hoar and Caffrey played carefully against efficient, tight bowling. Gradually, the run rate increased helped by some uncharacteristic fielding lapses, and Hoar reached a fine 50 with a six, which not only cleared the wooden clubhouse but also scattered a flock of starlings in the neighbouring field and disappeared forever into the distant undergrowth.
Caffrey’s 50 was more sedate, achieved with a melange of classic drives and agricultural cow-shots. Matt Rees entered to loud applause and expectation from the large and appreciative crowd. The chunky right-hander didn’t disappoint. Gone was the memory of the previous day’s duck, and now the real Rees blossomed with 42 runs off just 25 balls including seven boundaries.
Pentyrch were reeling but fought back stoutly, taking four quick wickets and sewing seeds of doubt in the minds of the Camels. But Cobus Grierson decided that enough was enough, and just nine balls later the match was won.
Grierson’s 30 not out included five fours and an imperious six which disturbed the ghosts of the haunted ruin in the next field. Additionally, it was Hoar’s performance at the top of the innings to ensure the victory that secured the Bahrain Rugby Football Club outstanding performance award.
Pentyrch’s legendary hospitality kept the Camels celebrating well into the summer night to wrap up another unforgettable day of cricket for the tourists.
The Camels’ next opponents are the formidable Tondu outfit, who inflicted one of the rare defeats on the Bahrain team in 2014.
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