Tomos has a big impact

CRICKET

YOUNG Bridgend Town paceman Tomos Jones made a dramatic impact during his Wales Minor Counties debut against Herefordshire in the Unicorns Championship at Eastnor, writes Tony Poole.

He headed for the Malvern Hills to represent Wales along with two other local cricketers – Sam Pearce (Bridgend Town) and Steffan Roberts (Neath).

Wales batted first and at 151-9, they were in deep trouble. But Prem Sisodiya (Cardiff) and young Jones made a lastwicket stand that yielded 91 runs. While Sisodiya clouted five sixes and five boundaries in a hard-hitting 82 off 63 balls, Jones ended up with an unde- feated 14 (three fours off 29 deliveries).

It got Wales up to 242 off 62.4 overs – David G Ball sending down 134-32-5 - and then Jones took a quick wicket in an initial spell of 3-1-3-1.

Herefordshire failed to make genuine progress and when young Jones returned, another victim left him with figures of 8-2-19-2. And leggie Pearce with 6-3-5-2 also got amongst the wickets, as Herefordshire ended day one on 117-8.

But wag in the tail saw the innings yield 194 and second time around, Wales only posted 225 with Roberts out for 49.

That set Herefordshire 273 to win and with Matt Pardoe striking 125 and Nicky Hammond 93, they went on to close out a four-wicket success.