BOWLERS RALLY TO STUN CARDIFF
A YOUNG Ammanford team gained a season-defining 18-run victory at Cardiff which all but guarantees their continued presence in next season’s South Wales Premier Cricket League.
Batting first, Ammanford opener Kurtis Marsh maintained his blistering form with 79, supported early on by skipper Dan Roberts (21) and Xavier Clarke (42).
At 156-3, Ammanford looked set for a dominant total, but none of the middle order was able to stick around long enough to dominate the bowling.
Rhys Davies (26), Josef Davies (18) and Gruffudd Owen (16) looked good, but got out when it looked as though they were ready to cut loose.
Ammanford closed their innings on a creditable 248-9, but the received wisdom around the ground was that this was 20 to 30 short of what was needed.
For Cardiff, Tom Barry marked his first wickets of the season with 5-46.
Cardiff cruised past the hundred mark before losing opener James Meggit for 47.
They reached 185-1, before Glamorgan’s Prem Sisodiya was bowled by Clarke for 32.
It was when opener Umar Malik was bowled by Callum Croft for 101 that things started to go wrong for the capital club.
Tight bowling and excellent fielding kept the pressure on Cardiff’s batsmen as wickets tumbled at regular intervals. The last eight wickets fell for 45 as Cardiff slumped to 230 all out.
Roberts, Jo Davies and Clarke took three wickets each, but the entire team deserved credit for keeping the pressure on and forcing errors.
This win moves Ammanford 44 points clear of bottom club Clydach.
The race for the title is back in the melting pot after Swansea suffered a shock defeat at Pontarddulais.
Swansea went into the game 19 points clear at the top, but that gap has now been cut to nine after their three-wicket defeat at their local rivals.
Swansea chose to bat first and their total of 228-8 was built around a superb 113 not out from Cameron Hemp. He struck six sixes and five boundaries in his 139-ball knock, with Brad Wadlan adding a quickfire 48. Dafydd Davies took 4-48 for the home side.
Bont looked in trouble when they were reduced to 153-6. But Ioan Phillips (45) and Iestyn Rees (35 not out) rallied as the home side claimed victory with seven balls to spare.
Lukas Carey had earlier made 40. Jake Roberts took 4-52 for Swansea and George Pritchard 3-30.
Meanwhile, Carmarthen Wanderers kept hold of third place in Premier League 2 despite suffering a home defeat by Chepstow.
On an excellent batting strip, Chepstow complied a highly competitive score of 282-6 in their 50 overs with Ben Kellaway and Harry Hughes the joint-top scorers with 65.
Ian Hughes was the most economical Wanderers bowler with his seven overs conceding only 20 runs.
The Wanderers response of 193 was built on an excellent 91 by inform skipper Gareth Thomas, which included 11 boundaries. Kellaway took 3-23.
Match sponsors were Jason Stiles and Andrew Bailey of ASF Financial.
Mumbles won by five wickets at Llanelli in a match between two midtable sides.
Llanelli were all out for 139, with Iwan Rees leading the way with 52.
Mumbles opener Elliott Oates then made an unbeaten 52 as the visitors won with almost 12 overs to spare.
The most remarkable performance of the day came from Adam Sylvester in Ynysygerwn’s seven-wicket win at Gorseinon. Sylvester returned the incredible figures of 6-8 from 8.2 overs as Gorseinon were all out for 101.
Ynys reached their target in the 27th over, with skipper Alex Mccormack stroking a fine 62 not out.