Sunday 10th May 2026
Jumpers & Alarm Clocks
After last weeks win over Barry West End, this week was the turn of Blaengarw to attack the fortress that is the home of cricket AKA Wick Village Green.
The Blaengarw team are good bunch and even had a couple of Wick originals in their team – Chris (who plays for them on a Saturday) and South Wales most notorious free agent – Kenny (who to be fair to him was going to play for both teams.
A beautiful summers day (OK there was a windchill factor of -30°C) awaited us and the all the watching village supporters – many thanks for coming out.
Initial discussions in the Wick team dug out concerned should we have opted for the 6-inch thick thermal jumpers (emblazoned with the Star Inn Wick logo) instead of the 3-inch thick, as the windchill started to kick in. Young Sam, a trained first aider who was deputising for Doctor Tom, was doing regular finger and toe checks of the team to ensure frost bite was not setting in. This was made more relevant when after not having a coin toss we were selected to bat first.
Steve and Amal were chosen to brave the blizzard first, with Owz and John bravely walking out to umpire. All other players dug snow holes to shelter except for the scorer who just put on every item of clothing he owned (and some he didn’t).
Wick CC - 147 for 6 (40.0): Amal Chandrasena 37, Steve Collins 28, John Eynon 26*
Blaengarw & Coedely CC - 111 (23.4): D.Jones 31, Sam Broughton 3-3, Simon Stratten 2-23
SCORECARD
Anyway to the cricket, Steve and Amal set about a good start and after a couple of nervous first overs soon settled into a good rhythm. Scoreboard ticked along and we soon reached 50 for no wicket after just 11 overs. Steve had started strongly but it was Amal who caught the crowds eye with some lovely shots all around the ground. Steve was the first to fall for a steady 28 with the score at 73. Big Ben Wide strolled in next but we lost Amal to the very next ball for a well made 37. Skipper Russ in next. A quick drink (hot chocolate) taken after 20 overs 79-2.
Unfortunately the quick break didn’t do Russ any favours and he was out first over back.
With Kenny fielding and swinging his arms to trying to catch the Blaengarw skippers eye, there was a gasp when the ball was thrown his way. Would he bowl against us! The answer of course was yes. With Owz the new batter and Ben waiting, Kenny strode in. As normal deadly accurate stuff, with runs hard to come by. Owz then did the unthinkable and got a top edge to a ball from Kenny which was very well caught diving forward by the square leg fielder. John next in and he and Ben settled and then pushed on before Ben hit Kenny very hard straight down the pitch, only for Chris to take a very good catch at mid-on. So really Wick, caught by Wick bowled Wick.
122 for 5 after 35. Andy in next, cold, aching and just old really. He and John struggled to hit the big shots initially but managed to tick the board over and then hit a few bigger shots towards the end before Andy was caught on the penultimate ball. Simon strolling in to defend the last ball. Wick finished on 147-6. (Steve 28, Amal 37, Ben 20, Russ 1, Owen 0, John 26*, Andy 19, Simon 0*)
Innings break – Sam brought out his picnic hamper – which would have made Yogi Bear proud.
We strolled out, all jumpered up, to start the defence of our below par total. Russ opted to mirror the batting start by opening with Amal and Steve. Amal was full of pace and vigour and Steve was….. there?.
Now it may have been cold and some of the team may have played the day before and were tired and stiff and some may have not slept well, but was it a critical error by the skipper at the break not to have set the alarm clock to wake up the Wick fielding players? Read on to find out.
A classic village cricket moment arose in the 4th over, the aggressive opening batsman looking to attack Steve by coming down the pitch, Steve out doing him with guile and experience (that is what you said Steve isn’t it?), batsman swinging and missing, 3 yards out of his crease, Owz catching the ball behind the stumps, Owz looking shocked at the ball in his hands, the batsman looking at Owz and then at the vast gap back to his crease, Owz still looking shocked at the ball in his hands, the batsman slowly ambling back towards his crease, Owz still looking shocked at the ball in his hands, batsman stopping for a cup of tea, Owz now realising he had caught the ball looking around and smiling at us to say “hey I caught it”, Young Sam using school yard language to suggest to Owz to stump the batsman, Owz now looking shocked at young Sam. Batsman now finished his cup of tea, wanders back to his crease and then Owz removes the bails. Not out, eventually.
Play continued with Amal striking first, an LBW decision given. Steve, not to be outdone then did the same. Decent opening from both, but some big shots by the new batsman leaving Blaengarw 50-2 after 8. Well ahead of the run rate required. Saurabh and Simon on next, with Saurabh unlucky on a couple of occasions with edges just dropping short or out of reach.
After being busy at the Oscars and other USA awards shows for the last few weeks, Simon had returned from Hollywood and blew off the rust straight away with his normal line and lengths. He was rewarded with 2 wickets, Chris being one of them, with good catches by Saurabh and Amal. After 15 overs they were 90-4
A change of speed now with Russ and young Sam on to bemuse the batsman with spin. Russ back to his best with googlies and arm balls galore. He struck twice in quick succession.
Not to be outdone young Sam decide to go one better and take 3 wickets (for just 3 runs in 3 overs), 2 bowled and then a good catch by John to remove Kenny. To be fair to Kenny he had fielded and bowled for Blaengarw and then come off to pad up for us. He then fielded for us before leaving to pad up and bat for them. A prize scalp.
This left Blaengarw wobbling at 111-9.
Russ then decided that Andy had warmed up enough to be able to bowl and he waddled in and was lucky enough to claim the last wicket without any further addition to the score.
Wick victorious by 36 runs – fortress Wick
A decent all-round performance with some good batting by Amal, Steve, Ben and John and then good bowling and fielding by Sam, Russ, Kenny (for them), Saurabh and Simon. I can confirm that Andy and Owz were also present.
As usual we were treated very well back at the @Star Inn Wick, with sandwiches and roasties. Remember if you want good food, good beer and a great atmosphere you can’t go wrong with the Star.
Some things for the committee to consider:
- Should Russ buy a tickling stick to ensure we are all awake after any breaks?
- Should our new jumpers have space for hot water bottles next time?
- Would Sam be fined if he kicks Owz to awaken him behind the stumps?
- Can we all get sponsored picnic baskets like young Sam?
- Why didn’t we get front row seats at the Oscars?
A rare weekend off next week – with the return of Wayne and Bridgend / F Troop the following week.
If anyone would like to sponsor our new picnic hampers, matches, players or any kit please feel free to get in touch. You would be rewarded with many mentions across our vast social media platforms – I believe the phrase is “going viral” and if you want we can also send Sam around to wash your car. If you really want to push the boat out we can send Owz too.
– Andy Ellis
