27 Nov 2014 | Cricket
Penarth were involved in both the under 10s and under 12s finals this year of the Aswani Cricket Indoor Junior League Finals at the SWALEC Stadium last night, but it was a night of pain and joy.
U/10s Final sponsored by Aswani Cricket
The under 10s final was a great match and brilliantly tight finale. Penarth had showed themselves to be a strong team throughout the tournament and qualified with a game to spare. Cardiff did it the harder way, by starting slowly, but improving week upon week and only qualified for the final by having a higher aggregate run record that St Fagans.
Penarth batted first, and made 67-5 in their 10 overs. This was probably a little below par, but also some excellent bowling from Cardiff showed how much they have improved. When Cardiff batted, they got themselves in good positions, but just lost wickets at important times. Being 30 -1 at the half way stage of their innings, an upset was very much on the cards. But with some very tight bowling, it left Cardiff needing 15 to win off the last over. Following a loose over with some wides involved, this was reduced to 2 runs to win off the last ball. Penarth's player of the tournament, Zac Essenhigh, was able to fire in a brilliant yorker to bowl Cardiff's last man and win the game for Penarth.
- Penarth CC beat Cardiff CC by 1 run
Player of Tournament - Zac Essenhigh (Penarth CC), who was also on the shortlist for Wales' biggest India fan!
U/12s Final sponsored by Aswani Cricket
In another tight game, this game was very much in the balance right up to a couple of overs to go. Penarth went into the game probably as favourites having gone through the regular league undefeated, but Radyr also had strong league form and on paper the teams looked quite evenly matched with both teams littered with regional players. Radyr paced their innings very well, and were able to kick on in the middle overs. It probably could have been a few more runs, but a clutter of wickets towards the end of their innings meant their total hit the buffers a little bit and they were bowled out for 75, with 3 balls of their innings remaining. Penarth were steady enough, but a little bit like the 10's final, every time they got a little bit of momentum, they lost a wicket. This trend continued through their innings but they were always in with a chance because their run rate was good. Unfortunately their last wicket went down with the score on 51, with well over 2 overs left, to leave Radyr the victors by 24 runs.
- Radyr CC beat Penarth CC by 24 runs
Player of Tournament - (shared) Will Jones and Tom Wilbraham(both Radyr) for two consistent league performers, and performing excellently in the final.