Cricket Witness No 5 - Whites on Green

104 The Extra Test Match Australia for 101, before Tony Lewis and Alan Rees batted with freedom to leave the visitors with a tricky target of 268 on the wearing surface. By the close of play on the second night, Australia fought back in reaching 75-1, and as the crowd returned home on the Bank Holiday evening, it looked as if their dream of a Welsh victory had evaporated once again. But the following morning, the home side fought back with Shepherd giving little away during an outstanding spell. The youthful Glamorgan side also excelled in the field with Tony Lewis taking a superb running catch in the deep, whilst Alan Rees took a fine catch waist-high at mid-wicket as the tourists slipped to 207-6. Eifion Jones, the reserve wicketkeeper, also made some telling contributions behind the stumps as the pressure became too intense for the Australian tail-enders. Despite the heat, and a touch or two of cramp, Shepherd and Pressdee continued to infuriate the visitors and as the seventh, eighth and ninth wickets fell, the Glamorgan side – and the crowd of nearly 15,000 – held their breath as history beckoned. With 37 runs still to make, Eifion Jones then caught Neil Hawke, before what seemed like half the population of the Principality surged onto the field and then took part in an unscripted, but very Celtic celebration to rival anything that had taken place on the Eisteddfod maes the previous weekend. The champagne corks popped and speeches were made from the pavilion balcony by Ossie Wheatley and his jubilant Glamorgan team, and as the Jim Pressdee claims the vital wicket of Tom Veivers in the Austrlaians second innings.