THOSE of a nervous disposition need not watch Dinas Powys Second XI if the last two games are anything to go by. Another seesaw affair saw the battling Villagers come out on top – but only just.

Winning the toss on a well-worn wicket, Dinas inserted their opposition, Miskin Manor Third XI, who started brightly thanks in part to an elongated fourth over lasting 14 balls.

Amid the chaos, Upinder Singh assumed the role of senior seam bowler and his experience told with a steady opening burst yielding a wicket and not many runs.

Rising star Olly Hurley picked up the baton from a wayward Jack Houghton, suffering the effects of two years on the sidelines, and bowled extremely well – his mix of swing, cutters and yorkers kept Miskin's top order firmly in check.

Fellow youngster Will Palmer has a case for the day's best bowling, along with Hurley, having bowled a miserly 8-over spell of off-spin for just 21 runs.

His wicket, to a sharp stumping, was the least he deserved for a controlled demonstration of line and length.

Wickets were difficult to come by, but rattling through 22 overs of spin kept the innings moving along at a brisk pace, with Miskin never really threatening to go big.

That said, from 151-2 they might have hoped for slightly better than 182-6 from their allocation of 40 overs.

In response, Alun Harris and Lloyd DiMauro didn't appear too keen on rotating the strike as a tight opening spell put a stranglehold on the Dinas chase.

When the first wicket fell in the 10th over, Dinas were reasonably placed on 29, but the next 10 overs went for just 13, leaving the home side struggling on 42-3 off 20.

Fresh from his heroics last time out, young Hurley was again the rock around which Dinas looked to build, his carefully paced innings a sign of his growing maturity and class. Aled Lewis, back in the Dinas fold after a bout of totally unnecessary parenting (congratulations Mr & Mrs Lewis!), hit an important 32 on his return, but Miskin were still favourites with the home side 97-4 off 30 overs.

An equation of 86 required from 60 balls is never the ideal scenario in any form of cricket, but an injection of energy and impetus from skipper Gareth Evans (20) and Houghton (29) swung the game back in the Villagers' favour.

An exquisite Hurley on-drive and two fours from Andy Smith later, and Dinas were home against all odds by 4 wickets. The former, despite his tender years, is turning into the focal point of the Second XI in his first full season at this level – and the hard yards in the nets are clearly paying off.

Victory, the Seconds' second in as many games, leaves the Villagers neatly placed at the top of the league ahead of the trip to Cardiff to play Bay Dragons. But one thing's for certain – Dinas stalwarts Ian Richardson, Martin Adams and Geoff Colley will be hoping for a slightly easier watch from the boundary edge next week!

The 1sts finally got a whole game in and secured a victory at Newport Fugitives. They bowled the Fugies out for 111 (Sam Marlow 3-15, Matt Todd-Bennett 3-27) and then saw of the total for the loss of just two wickets with Gordon Hannah unbeaten on 68 and Kyle Hughes scoring 31.

On Sunday a young(ish) team took on Barry Athletic at the Island in the preliminary round of the Welsh Cup running out winners in a tight match. Dinas scored 218/9 in their 40 overs scored 197 a/o with Curtis Wingren (56) and Gordon Hannah (42) top scoring, and then managed to nip Barry our for 197 with Casey Hughs taking 2-20.

whilst the Cup match was going on a Friendly XI was seeing of Creigiau on the common. The home side scored 206/6 with Simon Le Good and Miles Wilston both scoring 53, before bowling the opposition out for 178 with Aj Jones taking 2-41.

On Friday the junior programme got underway with the All Stars (5-8 yrs) and Dynamos (8-11 yrs) having a fabulous fun time on the common.