Welsh Cup win is saving grace for Ammanford

AMMANFORD slipped closer to the foot of division one of the South Wales Premier League with a high-scoring defeat to Port Talbot Town at the New Mansel.

Ammanford were put in to bat on a glorious afternoon and made hay while the sun shone with an opening partnership of 61 between Matthew Fisher and Alun Evans.

When Fisher departed for 40, Daniel Evans took over and his partnership with his skipper took the score to 155 before Roberts was caught on 49.

When Evans fell for an anchoring 86, the Davies brothers, Rhodri (28no) and Rhys (22no), saw out the Ammanford innings, taking their total to a formidable 259-4.

Formidable it may have been, but Port Talbot’s batsmen were up to the challenge.

Glamorgan’s Nick Selman led the charge before he was dismissed by Fisher for 47.

The main partnership of 123, however, came between Joseph Voke (84) and Matthew Thompson (74no).

There were still three overs remaining when Port Talbot cruised past the Ammanford total for the loss of three wickets.

Things won’t get much easier for Ammanford this Saturday when Newport visit the Park.

Bottom club Ammanford 2nds continued their miserable sequence of defeats in the West 2nd XI division with a four-wicket loss to Ynystawe at the Park.

A promising start from Eirian Morgan (13) and David Lumb (17) preceded a middle-order collapse which was rescued by a terrific individual performance from captain Jamie Evans, whose 76 helped Ammanford reach 167 all out.

Ynystawe’s middle order by contrast kept the scoreboard ticking over, an undefeated partnership between Rowan Evans (31no) and Arun Maurya (26no) taking them past Ammanford’s total with four wickets and 16 overs to spare.

But there was better news for the club on Sunday when Ammanford progressed smoothly into the second round of the Welsh Cup by beating Pembroke Dock by 91 runs at the Park.

Ammanford batted first and amassed 161-9. Their main scorers were Owen Davies (36), Matthew Davies (21) and Rhodri Davies (24).

Pembroke Dock were never up with the required rate, and despite a defiant 34 from Billy Wood, they were all out for 92.

Llyr Morgan and Iestyn Jones took three wickets each, backed by Matthew Fisher with 2-4.

This Sunday Ammanford are away to Carmarthen Wanderers in the SWCA T20 Knockout, whilst their Third XI play at the Park in the Intermediate Cup.