THOMAS, CARROLL SOUTH WALES ASSOCIATION DIVISION FIVE

PORTHCAWLL plunged to a disappointing 111run home defeat to unbeaten table-toppers Gorseinon as, for the second successive week, their batting crumbled alarmingly.

The visitors had first use of another good Locks Lane wicket but made a patchy start with three back in the pavilion with just 56 on the board as Blair Driscoll made early inroads.

Rhys Matthews fell for 12 and Liam Oak for a breezy 38 which included a six and five fours.

However, the innings was centred on an impressive innings by Rhydian Luckwell who stroked seven rope-finders in his match-winning, unbeaten contribution of 73 which enabled the visitors to reach 182-5 after 40 overs. He was aided by David Bartlett who added a steady 26 and Isaac Thorne who was 13 not out.

For the Seasiders, Blair Driscoll led the way with an excellent spell of 2-26 from eight overs while Stephen Jenkins took 1-10, Nick Morgan 1-28 and James Rees 1-34.

In reply, Porthcawl were soon in disarray as wickets clattered at regular intervals, with Jenkins’ 11 the only double figure contribution until 14-year-old Steffan Flood, coming at number nine, showed his senior colleagues how it’s done with an excellent cameo innings of 22 not out. Having been hit on the helmet by a short pitched delivery, the youngster was unfazed and bravely slammed four boundaries to indicate his growing confidence in senior cricket.

His contribution exposed weaknesses in the hosts fragile batting as it took Gorseinon just 23.3 overs to dismiss Paul Mason’s side for just 71. Opening bowlers Scott Barlow and Oak did the damage with returns of 3-18 and 3-20, both from eight overs. Change bowlers Rhys Humphreys and Ryan Thomas maintained the stranglehold with Humphreys recording 2-5 from 3.3 overs and Thomas 1-2.