MAGIC MEIRION ROUTS BAGLAN
BRONWYDD and Dafen Welfare have the only two 100 per cent win records in division one of the Peter Lynn & Partners Solicitors South Wales Cricket Association after Saturday’s matches.
Bronwydd head the table with a maximum 60 points after a big win at Baglan.
Opener Gareth John set the visitors on their way with 76, and although they then subsided to 109-5, a remarkable 101 not out from No. 8 Meirion Davies off just 61 balls that featured 12 fours and four sixes helped them to 293-8. The unfortunate John O’leary’s two overs went for 43 runs.
Baglan opener Yakoob Ali topscored with 35 but wickets fell at regular intervals and Baglan were all out for 149 for a 144-run defeat. Tom Gleeson, Jack Dickson, Geraint Jones and James Cale took two wickets each.
Dafen and Gowerton produced an exciting tussle which went down to the final ball at Dafen Park. The hosts won the toss and the platform for their imposing total of 247 was set by openers Luke O’connor (68) and Matthew Evans (38), who produced an opening partnership of 131.
Jac Morgan added 32 and with 10 overs remaining Dafen looked set for a total in excess of 280. However, bowlers Louis Davies (4-77), on debut, and Will Collinson (2-39) bowled with impressive pace and restricted them to 247-8.
During the first part of the innings Gowerton 15-year-olds James Cable (1-22) and Jack Hobbs (1-32) both bowled their 10-over spells with a maturity that belied their years.
In reply, the visitors themselves were given a great start with the Mason brothers Matthew (82) and Chris (36) compiling an 86-run opening stand.
The momentum was maintained by Matthew and young Hobbs (21) with a 55-run partnership, but the introduction of the spin of O’connor (4-32) and Phil George (2-46) checked their progress.
Dan Allen (28) and rugby referee Ben Whitehouse (31no) continued to chip away at the target so that four were needed off the final ball, but only two could be managed, giving Dafen a one-run win.
Llangennech are fourth after they won well at winless Llandysul.
The Ceredigion side made 226-9 in their 50 overs, Llewelyn Hughes (44), Gary Williams (40) and Iestyn Evans (37no) the top scorers. Simon Clement took 3-50.
Llangennech were then wobbling a little at 63-3, but a superb 88-ball 100 not out from No. 5 David Williams that included 11 fours and two sixes carried Llan to 227-5 in 43.5 overs. Arfon Jones (2-22) was the best of the bowlers.
In division two, Briton Ferry Steel and Merthyr Tydfil have the only 100 per cent records and head the table with 58 points each.
Steel won at Pontyberem by 66 runs despite being bowled out for 150. Skipper Lloyd Clement topscored with 55 and Dafydd Davies took 4-20.
But Pontyberem’s batting quickly came unstuck as they collapsed to 10-6 and only captain Craig Evans (36) and Scott Davies (23) made double figures as they were 84 all out in 27.1 overs. The wickets were shared between Jay Webb (4-18), Daniel Williams
(3-19) and Wayne Thomas (334).
Drefach are third after winning at Skewen, who they bowled out for 136 despite opener Dean Kriescher’s 57. Skipper Rob Seymour (6-16) and Leigh Davies (2-23) did the damage.
Opener Ben Mitchell then matched Kriescher’s 57 and Seymour (24no) eased Drefach home on 140-4 in 23 overs.
Llanwrda are one of just two teams in division three with an unbeaten record.
They had an early finish at Bronwydd Seconds, skittling the home side out for 88, with 20 extras the top scorer as Berian Williams took 4-14, James Morgan 3-29 and Sion Nicholas 2-19.
Openers Adrian Davies (37no) and Morgan (34) had little trouble guiding the visitors to 89-1 in 14.1 overs.
Felinfoel got off the mark with a comfortable home win against Porthcawl.
Porthcawl opener Mark Dixon (77) got the visitors off to a good start, and 40 from Tim Richards helped them to 217-8. Craig Richards took 3-28 and Chris Bowen 2-25.
Skipper Richards then hit 47 and Bowen 50 as the Llanelli men eased to 220-4 in 46.1 overs.
Gowerton Seconds beat their previously undefeated counterparts from Dafen.
The visitors were put in by captain Adam Bond and his 4-28 was instrumental in restricting them to 177. Luc Picton’s 2-45 and 14-year-old Tom Sanu with 2-19 were also key to limiting the visitors, who were indebted to Ioan Roberts (50) and Jonathan Wastell (38).
Bond (38) got the hosts off to a good start, but his dismissal saw the game in the balance at 74-3. However, an 89-run partnership between David Roberts (68) and 15-year-old Lewis Hopkins (18) took them within sight of the winning post, and they eased over the line with five wickets and 13 overs in hand.
Andrew Herbert took 2-23 for Dafen.
Ammanford Thirds suffered a 20run reverse at the hands of Clydach in division six.
Batting first, Clydach reached 1698 in their 40 overs thanks to CJ Morgan (45) and Conor Sarsfield (33).
Dafydd Wyn Jones, Jac Davies and Paul Hicks got a couple of wickets each.
Despite 64 from Carl Griffiths, Ammanford fell short of Clydach’s total and were dismissed for 149.
In division seven, Gowerton Thirds entertained Penlan at the Athletic Ground for the first league game to be played on their new artificial pitch.
Stephen Slade (39) top-scored in Penlan’s 164-7, with captain Rob Hopkins (3-29) the key to restricting their progress. In reply, Phil Griffiths (40no) was the only batsman to master Andrew Davis (5-31) and the hosts fell 27 runs short on 137 all out.
In division eight, Swansea Thirds proved too strong for Gowerton Fourths at Ashleigh Road.
Two wickets apiece from Abid Iqbal and Rob Jenkins had Swansea floundering at 99-8, but an undefeated 70 from No. 9 Justin Rees allowed them to reach 224-9.
In reply, Taran Bansi’s 3-26 saw Gowerton tumbled out for 120 with only Iqbal (35no) and Will Bevan (23) able to offer any serious resistance.