WRIGHT RUINS LLANELLI HOPES

THERE was disappointment for the three Llanelli teams in division one of the South Wales Cricket Association as all three lost heavily.

It was no surprise that Llanelli went down at home to runaway leaders Cowbridge, who chalked up their 12th win from 13 matches this season, although the fourth-placed hosts would have wanted to give the Vale of Glamorgan side a much closer game.

Cowbridge elected to bat, a decision vindicated when former Glamorgan batsman Ben Wright rattled up 160 not out off only 144 balls, hitting 20 fours and one six as the visitors raced to 261-7 in their 50 overs.

Steven Devonald (2-52) was the only bowler to take more than one wicket.

Llanelli opener Iwan Rees (45) gave the reply a solid start, but thereafter only Ben Edwards (25) was able to get going and the home side were tumbled out for 141 in 35.4 overs. Tom Williams took 4-17.

Dafen’s batsmen also failed to make much of an impression as they were shot out for 125 in reply to Tata Steel’s 218-7 in Margam for a 93-run defeat that leaves them in sixth place.

Tata’s Kelvin Bartle (70) and Matthew Jones (54no) provided the foundation for the hosts’ healthy total despite 3-54 from Matthew Donoghue and 2-33 from Matthew Evans.

Skipper Evans (30), Donoghue (41) and David Dunfee (26) stuck around for a while but it wasn’t enough to stave off a heavy defeat. David Jones took 3-24 for Tata.

And Llangennech remain in trouble at the foot of the table after going down at home to Briton Ferry Steel by 54 runs.

Steve Maddock top-scored for Steel with 38 as the visitors made 159-9 in their 50 overs. Michael Jones, Simon Clement, James Taube and Matthew Jones took two wickets each.

But only skipper Taube (28) and Clement (22no) got past 20 as Llan were knocked over for 105 in 26 overs. Daniel Williams took 4-34.

The defeat leaves them second from last and grateful that bottom side Gowerton lost at home to Llandysul.

In division two, Drefach kept in touch with the leading group with a three-wicket win at Swansea Civil Service, lifting the Gwendraeth men to fourth in the table.

The Swansea side made 166-4 in their 50 overs but that total proved just within the reach of Drefach, who reached 167-7 in 48.4 overs.

Owen Donovan’s patient 70 was the key, although he was given valuable support from Rob Seymour (23), skipper James Carter (21) and Billy Ynystawe Seconds batsman Arun Maurya makes it back to the crease just before Ammanford wicketkeeper Dafydd Llewellyn can take the ball. Picture: Phil Davies.

McBryde (27no).

Mid-table Felinfoel didn’t have as much joy on their travels, losing by four wickets at Merthyr Tydfil.

Tom Jones (49) was the best Foel batsmen as they were bowled out for 119 in 37.3 overs, and with Merthyr struggling on 58-6 in their reply it was anyone’s game, but an unbeaten partnership between Jonathan Baber (41no) and skipper Andrew Lewis (37no) rescued the game for the hosts as they reached 120-6 in 39.2 overs.

Anthony Mathias took 2-18 and Jonathan Cheal 2-30.