Wednesday May 28th 2025
A May evening in Wick, aah those Summer nights. Well tell me more…
After a well-deserved victory at the weekend, the Wick crew returned to the shorter T20 format of the game. Those clever enough made themselves unavailable including three of the Dixon twins leaving just Dicky to preserve the family name. Skipper Russell and Andy returned after serving their one-match suspensions for TAX evasion, but with numbers still light Owen utilised his International connections and drafted in Ben and Sam from the Vale. Amal, Chris, Kenny “Ring a Ding” and Math (AKA Roy AKA Cheese) made up the Wick 10 man team. Llancarfan were also struggling with 9 (including Wick local Monty who stepped into help), so it would be 10 a side with a Wick player helping Llancarfan in the field.
20 overs per team, retire at 25.
A large crowd had gathered on the green to watch the game, well wrapped up against the local weather conditions (normal ‘gentle’ breeze and sun showers).
The crowd included members of the England (and Wales) cricket team, Harry Brook, Joe Root and Josh Butler, who had come to watch some local talent with a view to call ups to the England squad for the game in Cardiff on the following Sunday. Some say that Josh Butler was there to watch how to keep wicket and open the batting properly, after another stand out performance from a certain Mr Owen Thomas at the weekend, others said he was jealous of the colour of Owen’s keeping gloves – but more on that later.
Wick CC - 170 for 5 (20.0): Amal Chandrasena 27*, Matthew Williams 26*
Llancarfan CC - 86 all out (20.0): Rhodri Owens 26*, Sam Sheppard 2-1, Andy Ellis 1-5
Scorecard
As normal Wick lost the toss but Llancarfan opted to field first so Dicky and Math trotted out to bat first at about 6.15ish. Prior to the first ball Math reminded Rob that he had pulled a calf muscle recently and so quick singles should be avoided if possible.
Solid start by both on a lively track, well prepared by Kenny as normal. Owen fielding for Llancarfan to start with – to show off to Josh Butler. Math especially looked in good form, stroking the ball to the boundary on several occasions and drawing nods of appreciation from Joe Root in the crowd. Dicky took this as a challenge and started to take several quick singles, making Math hop a bit. The running between the wickets was to become a theme for the evening for both teams.
Dicky first wicket to fall at 42 for a well-made 13 off 11 balls (1 four). Amal in next. Then Math hit the magic 25 mark and limped off retiring not out on 26 from 19 balls including 4 fours.
Kenny in next, who as with most local teams has previously played for Llancarfan, and so several bowlers were seen warming up to try and claim the prize wicket. Kenny had other ideas and calmly smacked the first ball through mid-wicket for four. Loud applause from Harry Brook and the growing crowd.
Amal meanwhile was attempting to remove fielder’s heads by hitting the ball very hard through the covers, coming close on several occasions, so much so that Ryan chose to field in a helmet at one point. Kenny was finally undone trying one too many reverse sweeps and was out for 11 off 10 balls including 2 fours. He and Josh Butler could then be seen huddled on the bench discussing best technique for the reverse sweep, with Josh obviously learning from the master.
In next was Chris to partner with Amal who was going along nicely. Amal was the next to reach the magic 25 mark and retired on 27 (from 25 balls with 3 fours and 2 fielder’s heads to his name). This brought recruit Sam to the crease. Now Sam is a serious, very competent cricketer and seeing Joe Root et al watching decided that the Wick team should up the pace slightly (especially in the running department). Unfortunately no one told Chris about this and this led to a few comedy moments, 2s being turned into 1s and 1s being turned into 2s, with Sam lapping Chris on several occasions. At one point Sam ran 4 but unfortunately Chris only did 2.
The inevitable happened and Chris was run out after a quick single went wrong (11 off 17 balls). It was very kind of Joe Root and Harry Brook to carry Chris from the pitch, as he couldn’t walk at that point. Josh Butler didn’t help you will notice, as next in was Owen and Josh was giving him the evil eye from the bench, where Kenny was still explaining that Josh’s grip was wrong for the reverse sweet like a chicken scoop sweep shot.
Sam then tried to carry on with the quick singles but Owen was wise to this and kept his pace down. Sam then smacked a few before holing out to mid on (Sam 15 off 8 balls, 2 fours). Ben in next to partner his mate Owen, a few singles before Ben got an unlucky inside edge back onto his stumps (Ben 3 off 4 balls). Next in with just a couple of overs left was Andy, who took on the Sam role and pressed Owen into showing the England team how quick he could run. After a first ball 3, both were shattered and decided that was enough of that. Anyway, no further wickets lost with a few boundaries hit towards the end, Owen playing a few tennis shots at times just to impress Joe. Owen ended on an average boosting 22 not out (from 20 balls with 2 fours) and Andy ended on 15 from 7 balls (2 fours). Wick total 170 from their 20 overs.
Well bowled and fielded by Llancarfan, especially young Monty. Thanks to Owen, Andy and Amal for fielding during the innings.
Aah those summer nights – yes the T20 format of the game is supposed to be quick, however as Wick came off the field at 7.50 light was beginning to become an issue. With no orange or pink ball to play with it was going to be fun as the game went on. Luckily, Owen had his high Vis wicket keeping gloves with him, which spread a luminous glow across the pitch so we were OK. Josh Butler was seen taking photos.
Russ decided to go with Pace form one end (Amal) and guile from the other (Dicky) to start with. Amal had obviously not taken enough heads whilst out batting and decided with the fading light to bowl a few fast beamers, making Joe Root wince in the crowd as the batsman narrowly avoided losing his left ear. Amal did manage to hit the opening batsman Rhodri, a nice solid blow to the inside of the knee, forcing him off for a while to recover. Dicky on the other hand was serenely turning the ball 3 different ways, with Owen cat like behind the stumps. Amal 2 overs 1 maiden 0 wickets for 2 runs 3 knees & 4 ears, Dicky 2 overs for 15 runs.
Kenny and Math on next, with Kenny using his knowledge of the pitch to bowl some unplayable deliveries. Harry Brook observed to start to get his pen out and write a few names down. Just like a wind in Wick, the inevitable happened and Kenny got a wicket, good catch by Ben. Kenny, 3 overs for 5 runs and 1 wicket and Math 2 overs for 11 runs. Math then had to leave as it was approaching 10 pm by then…
Next, a run out from Owen after a mix up in running – again Josh Butler looking very worried on the sideline as Harry and Joe discussed who was keeping on Sunday.
Then Andy joining the growing Wick Run out crew by calmly throwing the ball to the non-strikers end when everyone was telling him to throw at the batsmen end. Some said experience, some that the glow from Owen gloves put him off, others that he just missed the stumps – we will never know.
Russell and Ben on next. Rhodri back after having a quick knee replacement on the side-lines for Llancarfan. Rhodri then retired after reaching the magic 25 mark. Ben 3 overs for 22, Russell 2 overs for 17.
Sam and Andy on next, Sam showing his usual array of talent with the ball and Andy showing his usual lack of talent with the ball. Andy took a wicket, good catch by Amal and Sam took 2 – a caught and bowled and then a stumping by the star man Owen. Josh Butler storming off after seeing Joe Root applauding.
Skipper Tim (2) and young Monty (3) remained not out for Llancarfan at the end bringing the game to a close at 11.35pm (or at least that’s what it felt like).
Anyway, a great game played in good spirits, blustery conditions and semi darkness. The home unbeaten run continues. Many thanks to the England team for turning out to watch and to Owen’s high Vis gloves for providing light to play by.
Next game is Sunday 1st June on the village green so bring a picnic hamper – but will Owen be playing or will he be in England (and Wales) colours at Sophia Gardens instead??
– Andy Ellis
