Amman batsmen blast their way into T20 cup final

AMMANFORD smashed their way into the final of this year’s SWCA T20 Knockout Cup, beating fellow Premier 1 side Port Talbot Town by a massive 140 runs at The New Mansel in Port Talbot.

The loss of a wicket in the opening over did nothing to deter Ammanford from blasting their way to their best ever T20 score.

Kurtis Marsh and Dan Roberts added 131 runs for the second wicket. Their first 50 came in a remarkable five overs, the second 50 even faster – just 29 balls.

When Marsh was out for 70, which contained three sixes and nine fours, Roberts continued the good work with Xavier Clarke.

The scoreboard was whirring along at record speed as the 150 came up in under an hour, Roberts and Clarke posting another century partnership inside 43 deliveries.

Roberts was caught out nine short of his ton, his 91 containing 11 fours and two sixes. Clarke was run out at the death for 60, which included five fours and three sixes.

Ammanford finished their 20 overs on a momentous 247-4.

A demoralised Port Talbot got off to a decent start with 50 coming in seven overs, openers Ryan Evans and Dean Morris scoring 24 each. But that was as good as it got for the home side. Never in with a prayer of catching Ammanford’s gargantuan total, they succumbed tamely to 1078 in their 20 overs.

Matthew Davies took three wickets for Ammanford, while Rhys-huw Davies and Craig Maloney shared a further couple each.

Ammanford’s opponents in the final will be Neath, who beat Swansea by five wickets in the other all-premier 1 semi-final.