Action from a game at Cardiff staged by the Welsh Association for Cricketers with a Disability.

Affiliated to the Cricket Board of Wales, the Association exists to provide the opportunity for disabled people of all ages to play and enjoy the game of cricket in Wales. They have coordinators in both North and South Wales who have a development plan in place to take cricket into disabled schools and to also encourage the participation of disabled people in organised cricket matches both competitive and friendly.

Wales' Disabled Cricketers visited Lord`s in mid-March for two fixtures against their English counterparts. The fixtures took place at the MCC Indoor School and Wales were up against an English squad who were keen for revenge after being defeated by the Welsh in the corresponding fixtures last year.

Unfortunately the Welsh failed to produce similar performances this time around and after making solid starts in both games they were beaten convincingly by the English.

The first game involved those with a higher level of disability and Wales won the toss and elected to bat first. There were sound innings from Kevin Griffiths (19), Ron Knight (22) and Tom Shackell (26 not out) as Wales reached 113 for 7 off their 25 overs. Shackell was the star batsman, he commenced his innings with Wales struggling on 59 for 7 but his 26 off 22 balls, including 2 sixes, provided a total for the Welsh bowlers to defend.

However, the English, aided by some poor Welsh bowling, took only 14 overs to reach their target for the loss of only two wickets. Kevin Griffiths was the pick of the Welsh attack taking both English wickets for 28 runs.

The second game offered the Welsh a chance to regain some lost pride and for a while it looked like Wales would be heading for another victory over the old enemy. After winning the toss Wales elected to field. Wales recovered from an early onslaught by the English openers. When the first wicket fell England were on 58 after only 6 overs. After the Welsh had made the initial breakthrough, the English toppled like dominoes. Jon Jones and Sam Scott both produced magnificent spells of bowling to reduce their rivals to 99 all out inside 19 overs. Jones produced the better figures taking 5 for 9 in just two overs but the plaudits were taken by teenager Sam Scott on his first visit to Lords. Scott took 3 for 14 off 4.1 overs including the vital wicket of English opener Paul Blackburn.

Unfortunately the Welsh Batsmen were unable to capitalise on the efforts of Jones and Scott. Wales were all out, thirteen runs short of their total. Pick of the Welsh batting was again skipper Paul Bennett who made 31 not out. Ian Martin was the only other Welsh batsman to reach double figures, in a game that the Welsh should really have sown up a long time before last wicket Ian Crumplin of Gresford was controversially given out LBW. It is understand that several taxi drivers on St Johns Wood Road were heard to have cried "Not Out" after hearing the nick off his bat through the noise of the rush hour traffic!!

And so Wales must regroup and rediscover their winning ways in time for their next encounter with the English as Old Trafford on 4th May. The squad is getting together for a training weekend at Christ College in Brecon in April and if there is anybody, of any age, male or female who is interested in disability cricket they can contact Paul Cartwright on 01978 313352 or Peter Williams on 01633 868113.