NEWPORT CUT GAP ON TOP TWO
NEWPORT made the most of their title rivals’ inactivity to close the gap at the top of the South Wales Premier Cricket League. With leaders St Fagans and second-placed Swansea both sidelined as a result of their matches being called off after heavy rain, Newport took advantage of the situation to move within 10 points of top spot.
Callum Taylor, one of the stars of the season, was again in form as Newport rattled up 242-6 at Bridgend Town. He struck six fours and two sixes in a 90-ball 83, while opener Harry Friend made a patient 47.
Alex Jones and Elijah Fulker both took two wickets for Bridgend.
The hosts never looked likely to chase down their target once they slipped to 53-4, and they were eventually all out for 178 to give the visitors victory by 64 runs.
Tom Baker made 51 not out for Bridgend, with Sam Wood adding 41.
Reigning champions St Fagans head the table on 150 points, with Swansea on 148 and Newport 140.
Fourth-placed Neath will believe they are in with an outside chance of silverware after beating Pontarddulais by two wickets at The Gnoll.
Bont started well after being put in to bat, with Lukas Carey (58) and Gary Arrowsmith (21) combining for an opening partnership of 56.
But Arrowsmith’s departure – he was one of four wickets for Joe Parkhouse – triggered a steady stream of dismissals and the visitors were all out for 162 in the 47th over.
Richard Edwards also helped himself to four wickets.
Neath’s reply got off to a disastrous start with both openers out without scoring, but the innings was rescued by a stand of 56 between Sean Griffiths and Lorenzo Machado.
Griffiths was eventually removed for 68, the fifth man out with the score on 129, and it was left to Samuel Jardine (27) to steer Neath home in a nervy finale.
Cardiff recorded their fifth win of the season as they beat bottom club Port Talbot Town by five wickets.
Port Talbot won the toss and elected to bat, but they must have rued the decision when half their side was back in the pavilion with just 34 on the board.
They eventually recovered to 111 all out, with Cardiff’s Osama Subhan returning the superb figures of 5-12 off 9.2 overs.
Darren Thomas top-scored for the visitors with 28.
The hosts suffered a few scares in their run chase, but an unbeaten 37 from wicketkeeper Steffan Jones saw them home in the 44th over.
Meanwhile, the most remarkable performance in Premier League 2 came from Salman Saeed in Cowbridge’s 68-run win over Ynysygerwn.
The opening bowler went close to completing a clean sweep as he took the first nine Ynysygerwn wickets to fall as they failed to chase down a victory target of 190.
But he ran out of deliveries and had to settle for figures of 9-27 from his 10 overs as the Neath Valley side were all out for 121. Tom Williams took the final wicket to fall.
Williams had earlier scored 58 as Cowbridge were all out for 189, with Emyr Lawrence taking 3-36.
Ynystawe extended their lead at the top of the table as they edged to a two-wicket win at Chepstow.
The home side were restricted to 130-6 off 34 overs after being put in to bat, with opener Gareth Ansell impressing with 66.
But it wasn’t quite enough as an unbeaten 60 from Ynystawe captain Carl Roberts saw his side to victory.
Ynystawe’s nearest challengers
Pentyrch suffered an 84-run defeat at home to Penarth.
Tom Sidford (53) and Ben Wellington (53 not out) helped propel Penarth to 231-5 in a rain-restricted 34 overs.
Stuart Roberts (62 not out) and Sam Ewen (27) were the only two Pentyrch batsmen to come to terms with the visiting attack as they were all out for 147.
Carmarthen Wanderers’ fine run of form continued as they beat Mumbles by 126 runs.
Skipper Gareth Thomas, fresh from making a century the previous week against Ynysygerwn, was again in form as he top-scored with 55 as the Wanderers reached 225-7 in their 50 overs.
Tom Davies added 47 and Owain Davies 46.
Mumbles slumped to 35-6 in their reply as the Wanderers hunted an
early finish. And they got their wish as the visitors were dismissed for just 99, with Iestyn Scourfield leading the way for the hosts with figures of 3-25.
Mumbles skipper Aneurin Norman was unbeaten on 41.
Opener Matthew Roberts was the star of the show as Gorseinon eased to a six-wicket success over local rivals Llanelli.
Roberts struck a brilliant 133 off just 130 balls – his innings featured four sixes and 14 boundaries – as his side chased down a target of 230 for victory.
Thomas Fowles (30) and Kieran Howells (26) also made valuable contributions.
Visiting skipper Ryan Nicholas had earlier made a fine 76 not out as Llanelli reached 229-8 in their 50 overs.
Steve Devonald added 36, with Josh Rencken taking 3-42 for Gorseinon.