23/08/2026
2XI match report:
Llandeilo CC End Seven-Game Losing Run with Family Partnership and Vintage Munday Performance
After seven consecutive defeats, countless near misses, and an entire season wondering whether away victories had been removed from the laws of cricket, Llandeilo CC finally put things right with an excellent 59-run victory over fellow strugglers Llandarcy.
The signs were positive before a ball had even been bowled. Club veterans Phil Harries and Max Munday carried out the traditional pitch inspection and quickly declared it a batting paradise. The instruction to captain Harri Lloyd Davies was simple: win the toss and bat.
What happened next was arguably the biggest surprise of the day.
The captain actually won the toss.
With the decision made, Llandeilo's youthful side took to the field. Six juniors featured in the XI, including three players still digesting their GCSE results from earlier in the week and three others with the luxury of a few years before experiencing that particular form of stress.
A solid opening partnership laid the foundations, with Gavin Matthews contributing a useful 21 as Llandeilo made a steady start.
Valuable runs also came from George James-Wrigley and Emily Hatfield as the visitors attempted to build a competitive score.
However, when wickets began to tumble and Llandeilo found themselves struggling at 90 for 6, Max's prediction that at least 160 would be needed looked increasingly ambitious.
What followed may become one of those Llandeilo stories that gets retold for many years.
Middle-aged captain Harri Lloyd Davies and his 13-year-old son Henri came together with the innings in trouble and produced an unbeaten seventh-wicket partnership worth 111 runs. Harri struck a career-best 92 not out, finally proving that persistence can eventually substitute for talent, while Henri showed a maturity far beyond his years with a superb unbeaten 31.
The father-and-son double act transformed the innings from peril to plenty, carrying Llandeilo to an imposing 201 for 6 from their 40 overs.
It was a special day for another youngster too, as Shiv Patel made his senior debut for the club. The scorebook will not capture his contribution, but anybody watching saw a terrific fielding display featuring several diving stops and plenty of energy in the field. Senior debut completed, uniform dirtied appropriately.
The Llandeilo bowling attack then took centre stage.
Llandarcy appeared comfortable at 27 without loss before Max Munday intervened. Having endured a season where wickets had largely gone on holiday without informing him, Max produced a remarkable spell of 3 for 5 from eight overs, including four maidens. His victims included both openers and a first-ball duck, leaving Llandarcy reeling at 30 for 4.
Phil Harries, who had answered a last-minute call to arms after morning drop-outs threatened selection headaches, rolled back the years with a miserly seven-over spell and claimed an important wicket. Joseff Davies also chipped in and deserved more than 1 wicket after some excellent bowling, while Emily Hatfield deservedly got among the wickets with another tidy performance. A special mention as well for Andrew Williams who produced an excellent spell when pressed to bowl and kept the spirits high on a hot day in the field.
The main resistance came from Ian Davies, who anchored the innings with 45 and briefly threatened to keep Llandarcy in the hunt. However, just as he began to look dangerous, he advanced down the pitch only for Gavin Matthews to complete a smart stumping off the bowling of Osian Matthews.
Osian finished with two wickets, including the dismissal of Ian Davies and another key breakthrough as Llandarcy's challenge faded away.
There was also a moment to savour for George James-Wrigley, whose catch helped maintain the pressure and capped another valuable all-round contribution.
When the final wicket failed to arrive before the overs ran out, it made little difference. Llandarcy closed on 142 for 8, leaving Llandeilo winners by 59 runs and, perhaps most importantly, able to forget about that seven-match losing streak.
Special thanks must also go to Clare, who spent the afternoon expertly scoring the match and remained on standby throughout should the injury crisis deepen and a surprise playing appearance be required.
So, to recap: six juniors, a senior debut, a father-and-son century partnership, a career-best score, a vintage Max Munday spell, Phil answering an emergency call-up, and Llandeilo's first away victory of the season.
Not bad for a Saturday in Division 9.
