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CRICKET – ONE of the rare defeats ever suffered by the Awali Camels touring team was in Tondu, Wales, back in 2014.
Tondu Cricket Club holds a special place in the hearts of the Camels – wonderful hospitality and hard, but fair, cricket. But these Camels never forget a defeat, and Charles Forward led an all-round strong team all with one purpose this year: beating Tondu, and they did by eight wickets.
Batting first, proud Tondu had other ideas. Openers David Matthews and Nathan Harrison moved sedately to 23 off tight bowling by Tom Wooding and Dan Viles. A big total looked ominous.
Suddenly, Viles dismissed Matthews (12) with a perfect yorker. Matt Rees came on and immediately had Harrison (18) caught by Forward, juggling a sharp chance at first slip. There was, however, no let up in the run flow. Ben Green (41) and Rogin Kutty (50) combined sublime drives with streaky edges in a 90-run partnership that threatened to take the game away from the Camels.
Enter the game-changer: Charlie Haine, in his first appearance for the Camels since 2002. He showed he had lost nothing of his youth, pace, and enthusiasm – or his ability to swing matches.
First, a smart catch at mid-on sent Green back to the pavilion. Next over, he caught Kutty, giving the evergreen Dave Hilton the first of his three victims. Wickets now fell like ninepins as Haine got his third catch and the run-out of legendary batsman Clive Holmes before the run machine could get going.
Co-sponsors Bahrain Rugby Football Club can be proud of their representatives Cobus Grierson and Herman Wagner, probably saving 30 runs between them with diving stops and putting their bodies in the line of some fearsome hits, as the home batsmen staged a strong recovery.
Andrew Turner wasn’t so lucky, having to leave the field for treatment after being struck by a fierce hook at short square leg. He bravely returned to witness the end of the Tondu innings.
Catches by Forward and George Axtell and a wicket for Wagner saw the target reach 182.
In response, Forward, opening for the first time this tour, went for the quick route but found the safe hands of Jibin Nj on the mid-on boundary.
At the other end, Wooding, opening the innings for the first time ever, looked as if born to the role. Although he also lost Viles cheaply, bowled by Green, his own, and the team’s runs kept flowing.
Carefully picking the balls, Wooding either glided the ball through gulley, drove handsomely through mid-off, and occasionally carted the ball mightily through mid-wicket. He was joined by Axtell, promoted from his usual number 11 position.
After one or two balls to get his eye in, Axtell started to ping the ball around with aplomb. His driving off the back foot was particularly pleasing to watch – and effective in accelerating the run-rate.
Wooding had already well passed his half ton, but Axtell followed on his heels, hitting the ball through the tall sycamore and ash trees into the River Llynfi to bring up his 50.
Now, it was a question of what would come first, the winning run or a Wooding century. They both came in the same shot – a massive hit over wide mid-on. It had been a great spectacle for the many Tondu supporters and the Camels entourage.Celebrations and award presentations were roundly cheered, and it was clear that the Camels are welcome to tour Tondu again.The Camels now head to Barry Island and Barry West End CC.
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