PHOTOS:
Andrew Salter - pleased to see me in the crowd
'Salts' bowling
Jason Cole & Robert Croft
A Geraint Morris 'Selfie' with Mr Croft!

It’s always great to visit a top sporting arena to watch a sporting tussle, and doubly enjoyable when it is possible to cheer on a local lad making good in his chosen sport.

Throw in some excellent company and a bag of chips (even if they are nearly three quid a throw!) and what more could a feller want on a hot summer’s Friday evening!

The venue is the Swalec Stadium in Cardiff and the match is the NatBlast 20/20 cricket match between Glamorgan and Gloucestershire where our lads need a win to go through to the quarter-finals for the first time in a while.

Former St Ishmaels cricketer Andrew Salter is playing for Glamorgan and sharing a car with me to cheer him on are Fraser Watson, sports journalist and rugby player; Geraint Morris, Llanrhian cricket captain, St Davids rugby player and travel Time Lord; plus Jason Cole, who loves his cricket and is an avid follower of Liverpool FC and Solva FC, where his parents Peter and Tracy do so much good work.

Throw in a press pass organised by Martin Bicknell, who does a great job for Glamorgan on these match days,  a seat in the superb press box overlooking the action,  where I have chance to watch in total comfort, and what more could a pensioner want?

But within ten minutes I hanker to go out in the crowd and watch ‘Salts’ and Co grind Gloucestershire to pulp. 109 for 9 and only four boundaries. Rubbish but Glamorgan need the win!

Andrew Salter conceded just eight runs in two overs and fields really well, with some terrific pick-ups on the run and flat throws to the keeper. He’s even got his own band of followers at third man who shout encouragement or advice after every time he fields the ball!

Glamorgan’s skipper Jim Allenby then shows Gloucestershire pace man Montgomery how to do it as he belts 18 off his first over (50 runs in three overs for the unfortunate bowler!) and Glamorgan are almost home and dry.
Jacques Rudolph (44 not out in 40 balls) and Murray Goodwin (41 not out in 20 deliveries) show this rag, tag Gloucestershire how to do it and they are cheered home by loads of Pembrokeshire people, up for the day, not least parents Irene and Graham Salter as his No 1 fans,

Haverfordwest youngsters Josh Hicks, Mark Stobbs, Simon Williams, Nitin Mathias alongside Mark Hicks as the veteran chaperone.

Then there’s Owen ‘Larter’ Williams from Lawrenny, John Davies (Pembroke Dock) and the Miller clan from Neyland, led by dad Andrew – and they had a brilliant time.

It really is a cracking day out and if you like cricket but haven’t been to support Glamorgan – then you really should go and savour the experience.

Andrew Salter signed autographs like a veteran and even found time to chat to me for radio Pembrokeshire – what a star he is!

To round off a perfect day (other than the chips because I put miles too much salt on them after paying a king’s ransom), Jason Cole had a couple of pics with Jamie Roberts (the Wales and Lions centre) and Robert Croft (ex-Glamorgan and England) – so roll on our next trek to the capital to watch top-class cricket!