DAFEN STRETCH LEAD AT SUMMIT
DAFEN defied the rain to increase their lead at the top of division one of the Peter Lynn & Partners Solicitors South Wales Cricket Association.
On a day when persistent drizzle caused interruptions all across South and West Wales, several games were either called off without any action taking place, were abandoned midway through or had to resort to the DLS method to achieve a result.
Dafen were one of the sides to gain victory via the DLS method.
Hosts Maesteg Celtic made 209-2 off 43.2 overs thanks to an unbeaten 82 from opener Nick Poole, 49 from Sam Watkins and 46 not out from Aron Bird before rain intervened.
Dafen then won by getting to 134-3 in 24 overs thanks to skipper Matthew Evans (23), Luke O’Connor (44) and Abdullah Rahimi (36no).
Second-placed Aberdare are now 11 points behind Dafen after they lost a high-scoring game at home to third-placed Llangennech.
The Llanelli side piled up 305-8 in their 50 overs after useful contributions from opener Rhys Culley (44), skipper James Taube (80), Matthew Jones (30), Nathan Jones (39), David Williams (25), Jonny Taube (30) and Simon Clement (21no).
Aberdare then slumped to 21-3 and never looked like reaching their formidable target, but at least 81 from Richard Warren and 54 from skipper Geoffrey Derrick earned them a respectable total of 254 all out. Wakeel Shah took 4-45.
The Bronwydd v Llandysul game was abandoned after Llandysul had been bowled out for 155 in 45.3 overs, Geraint Jones the top wicket-taker with 3-19.
Gowerton hosted mid-table Maesteg Town, who advanced to 91-3 when drizzle forced the players from the field after 21 overs.
The teams were off the field for just over an hour and the game was reduced to 40 overs a side when they returned.
Ellis Bird (64no from 71 balls) and Callum Walters (44 from 34 balls) helped them to 214-5 at the close, which was adjusted to 219 under DLS. Callum Eakins (2-39) was the leading bowler.
In reply, Gowerton were given a positive start by Matthew Mason with 34 from 32 balls, but his dismissal saw four wickets fall for 28 runs and when the rain returned three balls after the 20-over cut-off time, the hosts were behind on DLS, and with the rain not abating the visitors were able to claim victory.
In division two, the Landore v Pontyberem game was abandoned after a start had been made.
The only result was at Drefach where the hosts lost to Briton Ferry Town.
Town made 142-9 in their 48 overs, Arun Maurya the top scorer with 41. Rob Seymour took 3-26 and Leigh
Davies 2-24.
Drefach opener Ben Mitchell (29) then stuck around but no other home batsman got into double figures as the hosts were shot out for 86 in 32.1 overs.
Maurya completed a memorable afternoon with 6-22.
There was more action in division three where four of the five games achieved results.
Second-placed Pontardawe kept the pressure on leaders Llanwrda with an impressive win against the Towy Valley side in Llandovery.
Put into bat, Ponty had several batsmen in good form. Opener Adrian Lock (52), skipper Mark Jones (55), Chris Keen (45), Craig Alliss (35no) and Arwel Rees (22) helped take the visitors to 268-6 off 50 overs.
Garan Williams took 2-40 and
James Morgan 2-51.
Skipper Adrian Davies (34) stuck around, but Pontardawe’s bowlers had the upper hand as Llanwrda were dismissed for 92 in 31.3 overs, Neil Jones taking 4-10 and Jason Rourke 3-13. Llanwrda’s lead over Ponty has been cut to 12 points as a result.
Third-placed Dafen Seconds kept up the pressure with a nine-wicket win at home to Briton Ferry Steel Seconds.
Daryl Phillips top-scored with 21 for Steel as six of his team-mates failed to get off the mark as they were tumbled out for 55 in 26.1 overs. Ioan Roberts took 3-6, Andrew Randell 2-16 and Chris Hudson 2-13.
Dafen then eased to 56-1 in just 4.5 overs, extras of 30 – including 27 wides – the top scorer.
And Felinfoel in fourth also kept the pressure on the top sides with a big win at home to Gowerton Seconds.
An undefeated 100 by captain Craig Richards supported by Andrew Thomas’s 55 was the foundation of Felinfoel’s 260-4 declared after 48 overs.
In reply, Gowerton slumped to 37-3 but undefeated innings of 59 from opener Rhodri Owens and 35 from Ceri Rowlands left them needing 90 from the final 10 overs.
Rain curtailed the innings and with Gowerton short of their DLS target on 149-5 after 40 overs, Felinfoel were able to claim victory by 43 runs. Richards with 3-24 led the bowling. Porthcawl (194-9; Philip Howell 4-38, Simon James 3-39) beat Bronwydd Seconds (187 all out; Howell 41, Chris Phillips 38) by seven runs.