Bronwydd and Dafen maintain winning runs
BRONWYDD and Dafen Welfare have the only two 100 per cent win records in division one of the Peter Lynn & Partners Solicitors South Wales Cricket Association after Saturday’s matches.
Bronwydd head the table with a maximum 60 points after a big win at Baglan.
Opener Gareth John set the visitors on their way with 76, and although they then subsided to 1095, a remarkable 101 not out from No. 8 Meirion Davies off just 61 balls that featured 12 fours and four sixes helped them to 293-8. The unfortunate John O’leary’s two overs went for 43 runs.
Baglan opener Yakoob Ali topscored with 35 but wickets fell at regular intervals and Baglan were all out for 149 for a 144-run defeat. Tom Gleeson, Jack Dickson, Geraint Jones and James Cale took two wickets each.
Dafen and Gowerton produced an exciting tussle which went down to the final ball at Dafen Park. The hosts won the toss and the platform for their imposing total of 247 was set by openers Luke O’connor (68) and Matthew Evans (38), who produced an opening partnership of 131.
Jac Morgan added 32 and with 10 overs remaining Dafen looked set for a total in excess of 280. However, bowlers Louis Davies (4-77), on debut, and Will Collinson (2-39) bowled with impressive pace and restricted them to 247-8.
During the first part of the innings Gowerton 15-year-olds James Cable (1-22) and Jack Hobbs (1-32) both bowled their 10-over spells with a maturity that belied their years.
In reply, the visitors themselves were given a great start with the Mason brothers Matthew (82) and Chris (36) compiling an 86-run opening stand.
The momentum was maintained by Matthew and young Hobbs (21) with a 55-run partnership, but the introduction of the spin of O’connor (4-32) and Phil George (2-46) checked their progress.
Dan Allen (28) and rugby refereee Ben Whitehouse (31no) continued to chip away at the target so that four were needed off the final ball, but only two could be managed, giving Dafen a one-run win.
Tata Steel are third after a 10-wicket win at home to Maesteg Celtic, who prop up the table after losing all three games so far.
Celtic elected to bat but quickly rued that decision as they slumped to 59 all out in 29 overs, Joseph Crocker (4-20), Kelvin Bartle (3-7 off 10) and Matthew Jones (2-2) doing the damage.
Martin Lewis (12no) and Rohan Herbert (37no) then guided Tata to 60-0 in 8.4 overs.
Llangennech are just a point behind after they won well at winless Llandysul.
The Ceredigion side made 226-9 in their 50 overs, Llewelyn Hughes (44), Gary Williams (40) and Iestyn Evans (37no) the top scorers. Simon Clement took 3-50.
Llangennech were then wobbling a little at 63-3, but a superb 88-ball 100 not out from No. 5 David Williams that included 11 fours and two sixes carried Llan to 227-5 in 43.5 overs. Arfon Jones (2-22) was the best of the bowlers.
In the other game in the top division, Maesteg (241-6) beat Aberdare (169 all out) by 72 runs.
In division two, Briton Ferry Steel and Merthyr Tydfil have the only 100 per cent records and head the table with 58 points each.
Steel won at Pontyberem by 66 runs despite being bowled out for 150. Skipper Lloyd Clement topscored with 55 and Dafydd Davies took 4-20.
But Pontyberem’s batting quickly came unstuck as they collapsed to 10-6 and only captain Craig Evans (36) and Scott Davies (23) made double figures as they were 84 all out in 27.1 overs. The wickets were shared between Jay Webb (4-18), Daniel Williams (3-19) and Wayne Thomas (3-34).
Merthyr scraped to a one-wicket win at Briton Ferry Town.
Town were all out for 186, Rupesh Naik (60) and Arun Maurya (43) the main contributors as veteran Ron Walton took 3-32 and Paras Jain 3-27.
Merthyr seemed to be coasting at 150-2 thanks to Dylan Davies (51) and Jain (55) but a flurry of wickets left them at 185-9 before they claimed victory on 187-9.
Drefach are third after winning at Skewen, who they bowled out for 136 despite opener Dean Kriescher’s 57. Skipper Rob Seymour (6-16) and Leigh Davies (2-23) did the damage.
Opener Ben Mitchell then matched Kriescher’s 57 and Seymour (24no) eased Drefach home on 140-4 in 23 overs.
Morriston lost their first game of the season when going down in the city derby against Swansea Civil Service at Tircanol.
Morriston were bowled out for 166, No. 10 Martin Hyndman their top scorer with 26 not out – they were boosted by a massive 54 extras, 41 of which were wides.
Alfie Brown took 4-45 and Declan Blake 3-26.
Civil Service opener Shane Ryan then made 46 and Brown 38 not out as the visitors eased to 167-4.
Landore chalked up their first victory, winning by 42 runs at Margam.
Opener Stuart Davies (52), Ahsan Mughal (62) and Jay Copp (57), plus 46 extras, saw Landore to 261-7, and while a few Margam batsmen got into their teens and 20s, only opener Roneski White got to 30 and Margam were all out for 219. Abdul Mustak took 3-39.