It was an excellent day for Brecon Cricket Club on Saturday as both sides broke their duck for the season and there were some excellent individual performances on show as well, writes Derek Osborne.

Brecon 2nds travelled to Radyr to play their 4ths in division 9. Radyr are a progressive club with a lot of members and great facilities. On a slightly sticky wicket Brecon batted first and after three overs were flying at 20 for 0. Suddenly a flurry of the wrong sort of activity brought three quick wickets and a halt to the run fest. However, striding to the wicket came the man of the match Dafydd Edwards who looked confident from the start as he drove and cut the bowling attack mercilessly. After passing 50 before drinks Daf went on to score an imperious maiden century (104) before being run out ‘at the death’. Daf’s knock included nine 4s and three big 6s. Skipper John Kenchington played the supporting role and despite finding the conditions tough and seeing some of his best shots go straight to fielders JK hung in there until he was finally out for 49 in the last over. 

In reply, Radyr looked steady as Rob Hudman, in his second match for a number of years, bowled some useful spin with just the occasional loose delivery in his 1 for 24 from 8. At the other end it was great to see Dan Witcomb and then Tom Marshal back in the team for the first time this year. They struggled slightly for line and length but this will be useful practice and they will only get better. Although the Radyr opener Morris was scoring well (very) veteran John Cooke came on to immediately strike at the other end and with his variety of pace and flight he returned remarkable figures of 4 for 15 from his 8 overs. Young Sudhir Chand backed Cooky up really well with his beguiling spin and he was unlucky not to get a wicket on this occasion. It was left to oldies Osborne (2 for 20) and JK (2 for 12) to bowl the final overs as Radyr finished 45 runs short. The winning points lift Brecon off the basement and in touch of mid table respectability.

The first team were at home to Croesyceiliog 1sts and again batted first. A good knock of 33 by the returning Greg Webber and a great innings of 78 by James Davenport laid the foundations for a total of 215 in which Rich Lovering and James Mitchell also contributed 24 and 31 respectively. By far Brecon’s first team batting performance of the season.

The Croesy reply was steady with four of their top five batsmen getting into the 20s or 30s but good opening spells from Sam Williams and Ryan Morgan were followed by very tight 9 over spells for Jac Kenchington and Rich Lovering who both only went for three runs an over and picked up a wicket apiece. Ceitho Williams (3 for 36 from 6) and James Mitchell (4 for 20 off 5.4) then polished off the rest of the Croesy batting line up to leave them 56 runs short. Again, this win lifts the club off the bottom and will hopefully kick-start a move up the ladder of division 2. 

Nets are on Wednesdays and/or Thursdays and details can be found on the club Facebook page.