Oli’s unbeaten knock puts Bronwydd top
BRONWYDD are the early leaders of division one of the Peter Lynn & Partners Solicitors South Wales Cricket Association after a 109-run win at Maesteg Celtic on Saturday.
Skipper Oli Furneaux’s unbeaten 77 helped Bronwydd to a healthy 263-6, helped by Gareth John (42) and Jacob Jenkinson (40), plus 47 extras.
Despite opener Nick Poole’s 51, Celtic were then shot out for 154 in 43.2 overs. Meirion Davies took 4-27 and Geraint Jones 3-22.
Dafen are two points behind Bronwydd after they also made it two wins from two with a 45-run success at home to Maesteg.
Dafen recovered from 59-6 to post a competitive 195-9 thanks to 67 from No. 8 Jack Wooller, aided by 25 each from Jonathan Randell and Phil George. Callum Walters took 4-18.
But Maesteg themselves were soon in trouble and were dismissed for 150, George the destroyer-in-chief with 6-36.
The only other side in the top division with two wins from two are Aberdare, who chased down Llandysul’s 251-4 (Rhidian Harries 68, Ben Edkins 58, Gary Williams 52no) to reach 255-6 in 48.3 overs despite Iestyn Evans’s 3-30. Thomas Rees hit 57 for Aberdare and Haseem Hameed 61 not out.
Tata Steel got their first win when beating visitors Gowerton by eight wickets.
Asked to bat, Gowerton initially struggled and slumped to 42-5 as Joseph Crocker 3-17 and Michael Jones 2-28 used the conditions well.
Christopher Mason (31no) and Eddy Evans (21) enabled them to reach 116, with home captain Daniel Melindo 2-15 and Kelvin Bartle 2-20 maintaining the pressure.
That score didn’t look likely to test the hosts and Tata strolled to the target for the loss of two wickets with more than 18 overs to spare. Martin Lewis (38no) and Jack Donovan (27) led the chase. Gowerton didn’t help their cause by bowling 28 wides.
In the other game in the first division, Llangennech won by 75 runs at Baglan.
Opener Rhys Culley (51) set Llan on their way, and 38 from skipper James Taube and 55 from Nathan Jones kept the momentum going. Taylor Rees took 4-33 and Lee Williams 3-40.
Baglan opener and skipper Jonathan Lewis then hit 90 but received little support as the hosts slipped to 182 all out in 48 overs. Wakeel Shah took 4-35, Taube 2-28 and Matthew Jones 2-25.
Briton Ferry Steel lead division two, the only side with a maximum 40 points from the two games so far.
They won the Briton Ferry derby by beating Town by 93 runs. Skipper Lloyd Clement (82), Craig Evans (100) and Steffan Evans (46no) guided Steel to 259-5 before Town were all out for 168 in 40.1 overs. Kris Pemberton took 3-40, Craig Evans 3-43, Daniel Williams 2-14 and Jay Webb 2-20.
In another derby in Swansea, Morriston beat Landore by 10 wickets.
Landore were shot out for 103 in 28.2 overs despite Ahsan Mughal’s 38 not out. Mohan Bains took 4-22 and Matthew Green 3-23.
Morriston openers Stuart Johnson (45no) and skipper Meilyr Powel (37no) then eased to 107-0 in just 14.4 overs.
Skewen (103 all out) lost at home to Merthyr Tydfil (105-2) by eight wickets, while Pontyberem enjoyed a 185-run win at Margam.
An opening stand of 224 by Rhodri Evans (86) and a 136-ball 130 from Jack Rogers that included 17 fours set Pontyberem on the way, and No. 3 Craig Evans waded in with an unbeaten 52 off 41 deliveries to take the visitors to 310-3.
Margam were then in trouble from the off and subsided to 125 all out in 38.5 overs, Roneski White top-scoring with 24. Dafydd Davies took 5-27 and Rhodri Evans 3-24.
Swansea Civil Service lost at home to Drefach by four wickets.
Opener Shane Ryan top-scored for Service with 36 as John Cartwright took 5-24 and Rob Seymour 2-4 as they were all out for 147. Drefach then lost a few wickets themselves but always looked like winning as they reached 148-6 in 38.5 overs. Finn Brownless hit 34.