Superb Ammanford end campaign with Welsh Cup glory

AMMANFORD Cricket Club capped a highly successful 2018 campaign by winning the Welsh Cup at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.

They beat Neyland by 51 runs in an extraordinary final that saw some fine individual performances.

Put in to bat, Ammanford were in trouble at 60-4, Neyland skipper Hannon having taken all four wickets in his opening spell before reverting to his role as wicketkeeper for the reminder of the Ammanford innings.

Excellent fielding from Neyland restricted the scoring, but Matthew Fisher and Craig Maloney eventually gained the upper hand and put on a match-turning 91 for the fifth wicket.

When Fisher was stumped for 47, Matthew Roberts (22) kept the momentum going, while Maloney (64) reached his half-century.

Ammanford closed their 40 overs on 209-9, a score that had seemed unlikely earlier in the afternoon.

Opening bowlers Matthew Fisher and Sean Coaker kept a stranglehold on the early Neyland batsmen, and the Pembrokeshire side were only 55-1 at the halfway stage.

However, some spirited hitting by Miller (31), Banner (21) and Sutton (19) together with opener Bellerby’s half-century had them within striking distance of the Ammanford total with four overs to go.

Neyland needed 52 with five wickets in hand. It could have gone either way until leg-spinner Matthew Roberts baffled the remaining Neyland batsmen with a match-winning over.

He took four wickets in four balls to obliterate Neyland’s hopes and give Ammanford the Welsh Cup.