AMMANFORD’S FEARS DEEPEN
AMMANFORD are now facing a battle for survival after they crashed to an 111-run defeat at the hands of Bridgend at the Park in the South Wales Premier League.
Home skipper Alun Evans won the toss and invited Bridgend to bat, thinking the greenish pitch would help his bowlers.
Appearances, however, can be deceptive, and Bridgend built a solid start mainly thanks to opener Sam Wood (51).
Initial progress for Bridgend was quite sedate thanks to some accurate bowling from Sean Coaker (3-45) until Glamorgan’s Craig Meschede dramatically changed the course of the match with a half-century from just 30 deliveries.
The rest of the Bridgend middle order cashed in on an ever-improving pitch, with Thomas Cogbill also reaching 50 as they raced to an impressive 266-7.
It could have been much more but for Daniel Roberts’s second spell in which he took 3-40.
Ammanford have had little success in recent seasons in chasing large totals, and this was to prove no exception.
Despite a half-century opening stand between Matthew Roberts (30) and Elis Richards (24), some careless batting cost Ammanford wickets, and none of their remaining batsmen could manage to get out of the teens.
They folded miserably on 155 with eight overs left.
This defeat drops Ammanford precariously into the bottom three, above Mumbles and Clydach, with August now looking like a struggle for survival.
There is another tough test looming on Saturday when they travel to the capital to play third-placed Cardiff.
Ammanford Seconds also suffered a heavy defeat, going down by 105 runs at Ynystawe.
The Swansea Valley side stormed to 346-6 in their 50 overs, with Ammanford closing well short on 241-6.
And on what turned into a dismal weekend for the club, Ammanford Thirds found out why Maesteg Celtic Seconds are top of division six of the South Wales Cricket Association.
Maesteg batted first and scored 233-3, with their top three batsmen — Paul Morris (88no), Elis Bird (52) and Matthew Rogers (49) — all in fine form.
In reply, Ammanford were able to offer little resistance and only Sam Potter with an undefeated 22 could keep out home bowlers Alun Richards (4-10) and Elliot Coulston (314).
Ammanford were all out for 50 in just 16 overs.
The defeat leaves them fourth in the table ahead of this weekend’s game at home to Maesteg Seconds.