AMMANFORD BAG CRUCIAL VICTORY
AMMANFORD recorded their second South Wales Premier Cricket League victory of the season with an emphatic 80-run defeat of Mumbles at the Park.
Having been put into bat, Ammanford promptly lost two wickets with just 20 on the board and another demoralising defeat looked on the cards.
Then Glamorgan star Billy Root joined Mathew Fisher in the middle and the first of three half-century partnerships consolidated matters for the home team.
When Fisher (32) departed with the score on 76-3, Root was joined by Rhys Davies (12) for the second 50 stand.
When Root was eventually dismissed for a fine 69, Ammanford’s score stood at 132-5, and the match could have gone either way.
The third significant stand of 70 between skipper Alun Evans (29no) and 15-year-old Tiaan Sparrow (34no) swung it Ammanford’s way, and they closed their innings on 202-5.
Ammanford’s bowlers got them off to a great start as Mumbles tumbled to 36-5, Owen Davies taking three of the wickets in an excellent haul of 5-20.
The Mumbles response collapsed when Fisher had Mumbles dangerman Aneurin Norman stumped by Rhodri Davies for 30.
Mumbles were all out for 122 inside 38 overs, Jo Davies and Root having taken a couple of wickets each.
Ammanford have now closed the gap at the foot of Premier One, with only five points separating the bottom three of Ammanford, Neath and
Pontarddulais.
The coming weeks could well play a big part in deciding Ammanford’s fate this summer. They travel to Neath on Saturday and entertain Pontarddulais the following weekend.
Skipper Brad Wadlan scored a wonderful 153 as Swansea beat Pontarddulais by 166 runs.
Wadlan’s runs came off 132 balls and included 15 fours and seven sixes.
He found support from Gareth Hayden (86) as the hosts reached 312-7 in 50 overs.
Will Smale top-scored with 35 in Bont’s reply, but they were dismissed for 146.
Wadlan’s superb match continued as he took 5-33.
Ammanford were comprehensively knocked out of the Welsh Cup by a rampant Neyland, who beat them by six wickets.
Batting first, Ammanford scored 131-8, Josef Davies scoring 40 and Fisher 32.
Neyland reached their target with 10 overs to spare. Patrick Barclay scored 42 and Nathan Bennett 35.
Fisher underlined a good all-round performance with figured of 3-16.
Meanwhile, Ammanford Seconds lost by 47 runs to Mumbles at Marespool.
Batting first, the home side scored 234-6, Stuart Seaton their top scorer with an unbeaten 74.
Despite significant contributions from Callum Croft (39), Sam Potter (34) and Llyr Morgan (26), Ammanford were unable to keep up with the asking rate and were all out for 187 in 42 overs.