PHOTOS:
Nitin looking cool
Nitin in cricket gear
Nitin as part of Haverfordwest's victorious Alec Colley Cup side
Nitin Mathias is 18 years old, a very talented young batsman with Haverfordwest Cricket Club and is soon to pursue his studies at Coventry University in Biomedical Science.
Nitin arrived with his family from Sussex some four years ago and had already played some good quality cricket at junior level which he has continued to the present time as well as playing for the club first team quite regularly last campaign and helping the club’s second string to two Alec Colley Cup Final victories in succession.
He has also been a regular in the county team for his age group under coach Nick Davies and attended sessions with the Welsh Development squad, coached by former Glamorgan fast bowler Darren Thomas at Neath – and will undoubtedly hope to continue his cricket when he is in Coventry University.
Ormond cup success
Nitin certainly helped Haverfordwest to success in the Ormond Youth Cup in 2013 and showed his prowess with the bat as he scored 30 not out in the first innings and followed up with a boundary-laden 58 in the second innings. It helped his team beat a Whitland side which was looking for their clubs ninth win in the previous ten years of the competition and there is no doubt that had Kieran Griffiths not been in such supreme form with bat and ball then Nitin would have been the man of the match. As it was, he was more than happy to be part of a team which halted Whitland’s run of success!
Alec Colley double over Cresselly
He completed a cup double as he helped the second team win the Alec Colley Cup Final at Pembroke, where Simon Holliday played alongside another doctor in Ajay Revu, who won the man of the match award. Nitin contributed a few runs to the cause and showed the fielding prowess that has become another integral part of his cricketing excellence.
And it was back to Pembroke for this season’s Alec Colley Cup Final and again the opposition was their counterparts from Cresselly – and again The Town was victorious. Nitin only scored a few runs in the first innings and although his second innings contribution of 13 might not sound much it was in a very important partnership with another doctor in Kashif Ijaz, who blitzed 91 runs as Nitin joined a couple of other batsmen in staying with Kash at a vital stage in the match.
He was also delighted to be a 12th man for the first XI as they won the Harrison-Allen Bowl by beating – Cresselly!
Family matters
Nitin started his cricketing days in the back garden of the family home in Sussex where his father Jaggy, another doctor, loved the game after previously playing at district level in India. Nitin and his younger brother Nikhil (13) have both picked up his love of the game and with his mum Shirley have done a fantastic job of giving them every encouragement and being great chauffeurs. Nikhil is also a county regular.
“He’s one to watch for the future,” Nitin told us!
Useful scores galore
In Sussex, Nitin played for a team called Hellingly which had a strong youth policy in giving them a chance in their four senior teams, and by the team he was 14 he was an all-rounder in their second team but had to give up bowling because he developed back problems. But he worked hard at his batting and had a top score 80, plus several scores of 70+ and a large number of half centuries that currently hovers around the 25 mark.
With Haverfordwest, his top score is 70 not out for the seconds against Pembroke First XI and if pushed he would say one of his ambitions is to reach the coveted three figures in an innings!
County honours
Nitin represented East Sussex from every age group from under 10 to under 14 and was awarded a cricketing scholarship to Eastbourne College and played against Schools like Millfield.
He enjoyed it there for a year but then came the move to this county and when he came to this county continued his studies at Sir Thomas Picton School, where he obtained his A Levels in Chemistry, Biology, Physics and History.
He was soon involved with the Pembrokeshire under 15 team coached by Chris Campbell and then it was on to the under 17 squad, where he has enjoyed playing alongside Haverfordwest team mate Dan Cole, Steffan James (Whitland) and Jordan Howell (Narberth).
Other sports and building concentration
Outside of his cricket, Nitin has also dabbled in other sports like badminton (for the Haverfordwest Club), squash (mainly in Sussex) and basketball (with STP School and the Haverfordwest Hawks) but cricket has always been his No 1 sport.
Last season saw him play first team cricket for the first time and he had a top score of 42 as further proof of his potential.
“But I often got out when I had scored 20+,” admitted Nitin, “and that is where I need to develop my concentration so I build on those scores.
“This season has been one where I had to focus more on my A Levels but I am already looking forward to playing in university next season and then when I return to Haverfordwest.
Coaching county juniors with Simon and Huw
“I have been lucky to be encouraged by the likes of Danny Potter and Ben Field at the club and I have also started coaching of the County U13s team with Simon Williams and Huw Scriven.
“We had a great tour to Bristol and the boys were great – and I intend to take my coaching qualifications when I have a little more time.”
We asked Simon about Nitin’s involvement and Simon told us,
“He has proved to be a great asset to the squad because the players really look up to him and follow his high standards.
“We certainly hope that he will be with us next season when he finishes in college.”
And finally . . .
High praise indeed from a totally committed coach and we can pay Nitin Mathias no better compliment, other than to wish this modest and likeable young cricketer further success in a sport to which he will offer a great deal for many years to come!