THE final match of the Awali Camels tour of North Wales turned into a celebration of touring cricket at its very best.
Llandudno Cricket Club, after their first match with the Camels, invited them back to face the pride of the club: the Lionesses. In a first for the Camels, the match was played as a ‘softball’ cricket game in a modified ‘Hundred’ format, meaning both teams needed to bat the whole 100 balls, even if the result might have been achieved earlier.
Curious to see how the new format worked, Camels skipper Dave Axtell asked the Lionesses to bat first. His reward was to see the Camels’ top wicket-taker on the tour, Dave Starkie, bowl a tight two-over spell and claim the wicket of opener Clare Freeman.
Almost immediately came the pivotal run out of Lionesses skipper Laura Lambe, a cruel blow for the home side. Lambe’s reputation as a free-scoring top-order batter is huge in North Wales.
The wounded felines now had to dig deep. They clawed their way tenaciously back into contention with Olwen Kelly, Clare Roberts, Brittany Loughborough and Amelie Russel stealing singles and cracking well-placed shots through the tight infield.
Ten Camels players turned their arms over as bowlers. Paul Baker and Charles Forward claimed wickets – one, the result of a superbly slick stumping by Dave Mason. Suddenly, the 100 balls were up.
The Camels had to get the runs to keep their unbeaten tour record.
And yes, the Camels reached their target, this time in a plodding Camel-train way. They lost wickets along the way – Elin Roberts’ stunning catch to dismiss Baker off Amelia Andrew brought a roar almost as loud as that when Starkie was clean bowled by Freeman.
A wicket each for Charlotte McKinley, Roberts and Erin Deering slowed but didn’t halt the Camels’ progress. Mason, Tom Wooding, Fergus Shaw and a hobbling Dan Viles managed to find enough gaps in the Lionesses’ attacking field setting to claim a worthy victory.
Both teams left the field to thunderous applause with the Camels’ mascot, Camilla, held high in triumph. This was the crowning glory to what has been a superb cricket tour. The Camels have made friends wherever they played. It will be a hard choice where to tour next.
Scores: Llandudno Lionesses 50 for 5 in 100 balls
Awali Camels 95 for 5 in 100 balls.
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