Win keeps Seasiders in promotion race

CRICKET

Skewen, who caused the season’s big upset defeating the Locks Lane side in the reverse fixture, they will have to rely on two other results going their way to pip their challengers. Dafen need to be toppled by promoted Briton Ferry Town and improving Margam need to deny local rivals Baglan victory.

On a very poor Merthyr wicket the toss was vital so Porthcawl inserted the visitors who made a steady, if slow, start, but, from 48-1, the hosts crumbled to 49-4, then 72-6, later 98-8 with nine overs remaining.

The one disappointment for Jack Tuck’s side is that they failed to dislodge the ninth wicket pair who took the home total to 115-8 from 50 overs.

For the Ironmen, openers Tom Songhurst and Jeremy Crocker both posted 22, Chris Birch 13 and there was 11 each from Arwel Hughes and Robin Thompson, who was unbeaten.

The ever-consistent Mark Bevan and Josh Aubrey caused the hosts’ downfall, Bevan taking 3-19 from 10 overs while Aubrey’s 10 cost 3-36. Jack Tuck’s 10 over stint ended with an excellent return of 1-9 and he also took a stunning diving catch.

It was also good to see pace-ace Tom Davies, out for virtually the whole season with a serious shoulder injury, bowling his full stint of 10 and figures of 1-16.

The loss of prolific opener Mark Dixon with a slight hamstring injury, in the second over, was a blow to Porthcawl but it was Nick Davies and Rob Jones who steadied the ship. They took the score to 59 before the first wicket fell, Jones, who needs just 33 more runs to reach the 600 mark for the season, falling for 27, with two boundaries, before being caught in the deep.

Boundaries were hard to come by but incoming Over 50 Welsh international Steve Richmond played with great freedom to end 25 not out with three rope finders. Davies’ remarkable campaign continues to go from strength to strength as he reached the 50 mark for the eighth time this season, more than any batsman in the Association.

His 55 not out means he has now accumulated 632 runs and an average of over 50.

He hit just three fours in another patient exercise of concentration as the visitors reached their target with 15 overs to spare. Crocker took the only wicket to fall.