29th August 2021
Cadnam II 154-4, Sway III 152-8
Safe from any relegation threat, Sway 3rds travelled to Cadnam's picturesque ground with a licence to enjoy the final day of the season.
Sway lost the toss and were put into bat, opening with Casper Todd and U14 Olly Marshall. Todd, however, cut behind to the keeper off just the 2nd ball. Veteran Pete Bennet joined Marshall to steady the ship against some very tight lines from Cadnam's bowlers.
Runs were hard to come by when Bennet holed out for 5 trying to up the rate. Will Baughan at four is naturally a quick scoring batsman and he rapidly moved onto 11 before Cadnam's veteran tweaker Reddy Venugopal entered the attack. Venugopal had Baughan caught then bowled Niall Gallagher for a 5 ball duck.
Sway were now in a spot of bother at 30-3. Arnie Badami batted well for his 14 but when he fell Sway were 68-4 and the half way point. Marshall was still there - his defence as bullet proof as ever and was joined by U15 team-mate Connor Treacey. The pair played sensibly - attacking when they could and the rate started to pick up. Marshall had hit 3 boundaries off consecutive balls when he was caught driving hard into the covers for a well-made 35. Malo Holden joined Treacey and the runs continued to flow with some sharp running between the wickets testing Cadnam's somewhat older fielders. Although Holden was out for 11, skipper Dave Marshall came in for the last 4 overs scoring an unbeaten 26 off 15 balls whilst in his best innings for Sway to date Treacey was unbeaten on 33 off 41 balls as Sway accelerated to a defendable total of 152 off 40 overs.
Cadnam opened their reply with in-form batsman John Newland - "catches win matches" has never been so true! Newland was not just let off once but 4 times by various drops ranging from simple to tricky. Whilst Newland made the most of his luck, fellow opener Harry Singh was kept well in check by the Sway bowlers.
Sway U13 star Declan Treacey was introduced to the attack with a licence to bowl as quick as he liked. Treacey set Singh up beautifully with a rhapsody of rapid chin music forcing the batsman onto the back foot before a full ball sent to the bails flying. When number 3 Wright-Green snicked though to Bennet behind the stumps off Olly Marshall Sway thought they had a chance. A fine spell of pace from Connor Treacey provided plenty of close shaves but it was the oft-reprieved Newland however that was doing the damage. The skipper brought himself on and picked up two wickets, including one handed diving slip catch of the season by Niall Gallagher who previously seemed to have been growing roots at 1st slip! Newland was dropped twice again however at mid-on and was 77 not out as the home side wrapped up the victory 4 wickets down.
Despite the defeat Sway were very competitive - some memorable performances from the youngsters that bodes well for next season and beyond.
Sway 3rd XI L-R:
Niall Gallager, Decland Treacey, Connor Treacey, Olly Marshall, Steve Drayton, Casper Todd, Will Baughan, Dave Marshall, Pete Bennet, Arnie Badami, Malo Holden
