DAFEN SOARING
Welfare chalked up their sixth win out of six games in division one of the Peter Lynn & Partners Solicitors South Wales Cricket Association, though they didn’t have things all their own way at Tata Steel.
Dafen skipper Matthew Evans’s decision to bat first was vindicated by his unbeaten 83 as the visitors made 199-5 in their 50 overs. Scott Phillips (40) and Jonathan Randell (25) were the best of the rest as Michael Jones took 3-39.
Tata No. 4 Kelvin Bartle blasted 81 off 87 balls, a knock that featured four fours and five sixes, but once he had departed the tail collapsed and the Steelmen were all out for 181 for an 18-run defeat. Andrew Randell, Phil George and Luke O’connore each took two wickets.
Second-placed Llangennech won at Gowerton by four wickets, a defeat that leaves Gowerton bottom but one.
Asked to bat on a wicket holding a little moisture after the overnight rain, the North Gower men slipped to 43-5 with Jack Williams (4-37) accounting for most of the top order. Jamie Morgan (45 from 65 balls) and
Callum Eakins (50no from 56 balls) allowed them to recover and post a respectable 171-9.
Matthew Jones with 3-31 was key to restricting the hosts from achieving a higher total.
In reply, the visitors always had the chase under control, with Matthew Jones (33), Johny Taube (32no), James Taube (31) and Hedd-wyn Jones (28) all making significant contributions.
Spinners Matthew Mason (2-15) and Tom Clarke (2-38) took mid-innings wickets but the visitors eased home with almost nine overs in hand.
Aberdare are third after they successfully chased down visitors Baglan’s 201-9 by getting to 205-5, whil Bronwydd are just a point behind in fourth after a comfortable home win against Maesteg.
Maesteg tumbled from 61-2 to 96 all out in 33.2 overs as James Cale took 4-13 and Joseph Clark 2-29.
Openers Cale (45no) and Gareth John (25) then set Bronwydd up for a winning 97-2 in the 24th over.
The long journey from Ceredigion to the Llynfi Valley was worth it for
Llandysul, who are in sixth place after a comfortable win at bottom team Maesteg Celtic.
Llandysul were all out for 22 in 49.4 overs, Titus Matthew (37) and skipper Ben Edkins (44) their top scorers, plus a whopping 63 extras, 55 of which were wides. Aron Bird took 4-56 but bowled 21 wides.
Celtic then had four men get into their 20s but no further as they slipped to 166 all out. Mathew took 4-47 and Llewelyn Hughes 2-22.
Merthyr Tydfil top division two and still have the only perfect win record after they won at Landore by 192 runs.
Merthyr rattled up 287-9 in their 50 overs, led by opener Dylan Davies’s 109. Dai Griffiths and Siraj Salim had identical figures of 4-53 off 10.
Landore then had only two men in double figures – plus 36 extras – as they were shot out for 95 in 29.2 overs. Three bowlers took three wickets each for Merthyr.
Briton Ferry Steel stay second after beating Skewen by 31 runs.
Craig Evans and Rhodri Maddock top-scored with 34 and 28 respectively as Steel were all out for 196 in 41.4 overs, their total boosted by 53 extras, again wides of 38 the chief culprit. Jordan Jones took 4-39.
Skewen never really threatened to reach their target and were all out for 165 in 40 overs. John Jones topscored with 34 as Tim Stephens took 5-31 and Daniel Williams 3-41.
Drefach are third despite losing their Gwendraeth Valley derby at home to Pontyberem.
Pontyberem wee grateful to middle-order contributions of 33 from Dan Griffiths and 29 from Emyr Harris as they were bowled out for 159 in 48.4 overs. Leigh Davies (3-17) ws the most successful bowler.
But that target proved too much for Drefach, who, despite 32 from opener and skipper Ben Mitchell, crashed to 93 all out in the 28th over. Morgan Davies (17) was the only other batsman in double figures as Griffiths took 3-13, Rhodri Evans 3-25, Cadan Lewis 2-17 and Craig Evans 2-38.
Elsewhere in division two, Morriston (161-3) beat winless bottom club Margan (157) by seven wickets, and Swansea Civil Service (217-9) beat Briton Ferry Town (180 all out) by 37 runs.