Unbeaten Porthcawl work hard for draw

CRICKET

against a spirited Great Western side.

After the visitors had posted a formidable 2505, it appeared that survival was Porthcawl’s best hope, but the Seasiders had positive intentions from the first ball.

Nick Davies, who has been in magnificent form, continued in the same vein and, in harness with Mark Lewis, who made 14, the home side made good start but it was Davies and Rob Jones who took the challenge to their opponents. In a thrilling century partnership for the second wicket, Davies eventually fell for 57, with nine fours. It was his fourth half century in the first six weeks of the season.

William Frost stepped up from the seconds to give Jones excellent support and, while they were together, an unlikely victory was within their grasp. The loss of Frost for a forceful 29, with one six and five fours, saw the challenge melt away as wickets tumbled. When stumps were drawn, Jones’ imperious undefeated knock was just five short of a well merited century. His 95 included sixteen rope finders.

For the Railwaymen, Khalid Afzal caused the middle order collapse taking 4-27 in a fine 10 over spell. Tom Marshall chipped in with 2-43 and former junior Seasider Ross Stenner took 1-39, both off 10 overs.

Porthcawl’s bowlers had earlier found the going tough against some fine batting from the visitors although it took an unbroken sixth wicket partnership of 83 between Marshall, 49 not out with a six and fours boundaries, and Ian Keen, 34 with three boundaries, to boost their total.

Earlier, Steve Hughes made 39, with openers Phil Cadogan and Stenner adding 29 and 25 respectively. Stand-out bowlers for a Porthcawl were second team regular Marc Thompson and Jones, who both bowled with great accuracy to record 1-27 and 1-28, each from 10 overs. There was also a wicket apiece from promising 14 year old Isaak Cronje, Steve Richmond and Josh Tatchell. STEFFAN Roberts from Maesteg last Sunday struck a maiden Minor Counties Championship century for Wales during the opening day of their Unicorns (Western Division) clash with Shropshire at Pontarddulais, writes Tony Poole.

The Neath batsman struck 103 with the innings containing a six and eight boundaries, and it came off 157 balls in 199 minutes.

Roberts figured in an 87-run stand for the fourth wicket with Bont glove man Cameron Herring (51).

Ellis Richards (Am-