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CRICKET – The Reza Hygiene Awali Camels claimed their fourth successive victory in their South Wales tour, beating Barry West End CC by eight wickets.
Following three hard-fought wins, the Camels were in holiday mood for their fourth match in four days – and where better to be in holiday mood than at Barry Island?
The West End CC ground nestles between the spectacular Bristol Channel and the famous funfair. The weather was sunny with a brisk sea fret bringing plenty of help to the bowlers, despite the track being the perfect batting wicket. Plenty of interested onlookers poured through the gates as the cricket became more exciting.
Batting first, West End’s openers Ian Gadd and Henry Dawson calmly and effectively built a 55-run partnership off a tight but frustrated attack. Ageless seamer Steve Turner was particularly frustrated by Dawson’s ability to regularly find the cover boundary.
A smart catch by Bahrain Rugby Football Club’s (BRFC) Cobus Grierson and a steepler by Matt Davies brought wickets for Matt Rees and Dafydd Huw Caffrey – 55 for two became 55 for three as Dave Axtell’s first ball removed dangerman Will Morgan for a golden duck.
Some repair of the damage was achieved by Mark Ewington (10) and Dafydd Frost (9) before Andrew Turner’s left hand plucked a full-blooded Ewington hook at short square leg, and Charles Forward’s simple catch gave Axtell his second wicket.
Before the most dramatic events of the day came yet another catch, yet another bomb from the stratosphere, this time into the safe hands of Guy Parker off Davies.
There was still time and plenty of overs for the home team to recover, but veteran Dave Starkie had other ideas. Coming in off a short bouncy run-up as he has for decades, he produced three identical deliveries and clean-bowled three befuddled batsmen to achieve a remarkable and commendable hat-trick. His jubilant celebrations even drowned out the exhilarated screams wafting over from the funfair.
Now, the cricket was in ‘festival’ mode. To keep the expectant crowd happy, the inning was extended to allow the home team to build a more challenging total for the visiting Camels to chase. Runs and wickets came in equal measure as the total mounted.
Parker, three wickets, and Charlie Viles, one wicket, kept things in perspective as West End scuttled and scrambled their way to 170 all out.
For the first time in 30 years of touring, the Camels had a father-and-son opening pair, and Axtell and his son George didn’t disappoint. In true exhibition style, George retired on 26, having smashed three fours and a colossal six. Axtell was even more clinical – 40 off his 55 runs came from boundaries before he retired to rounds of applause.
Some resistance came from spinners James Grey and Gethin Pritchard, who dismissed Parker and Davies in short order. Charles Forward (40) and Dave Hilton (28) were in no charitable mood, however, and knocked off the required runs in a flurry of boundaries – 11 in all.
The BRFC outstanding performance award was presented to Axtell for his all-around, match-winning contribution.
Following their win, the Camels presented Barry West End CC president Glan Williams with a Camels plaque. The Camels, he said, were now honourary members of the prestigious club, and welcome anytime.
The travelling show rolls into quaint Hopkinstown for the fifth game of this six-match tour.
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