MORE WOE FOR AMMANFORD
AMMANFORD’S spiral of misery continued with a feeble 99-run defeat at Cardiff in division one of the South Wales Premier League.
With Cardiff electing to bat, Ammanford got off to a good start having the home side at 19-3.
However, they were unable to get rid of the stubborn Umar Malik (83), whose 78-run stand with Harry Bowles (25) proved the mainstay of the Cardiff innings.
Cardiff reached 179-8 in their 50 overs, with all eight wickets falling in one way or another to the Roberts brothers, Daniel and Matthew.
Daniel took 3-38 and Matthew 2-34, but in addition the two were responsible for the remaining three run outs, Matthew getting two and Daniel one.
On a very decent wicket Cardiff’s total looked well within reach, but Ammanford’s batting of late has appeared extremely fragile and their response proved no exception.
Both openers were back in the shed with just 16 on the board.
A short interruption for rain provided no respite, and wickets continued to fall at a depressingly regular rate. Only Daniel Roberts provided any real resistance, being last man out on 42.
He needed one or two of his team-mates to stay with him for what could have been match-saving partnerships, but none were able to do so and Ammanford crumbled to a disappointing 80 all out.
They are now next to bottom, just 25 points ahead of Clydach, who scored a monumental total of 288 to win against Pontarddulais, in strong contrast to Ammanford’s effort.
These two will meet this Saturday at Ammanford Park in what will be a dogfight for survival in division one. Ammanford can only hope that recent form is not a pointer to the outcome.
Ammanford Seconds were pipped by Ynysygerwn Seconds by nine runs in the Premier League West 2nd XI Championship.
Ammanford were all out for 233 in 49.3 overs chasing the Neath Valley visitors’ 242-8.
The defeat leaves Ammanford 17 points adrift of Swansea Seconds at the foot of the table.
Ammanford Thirds played their second match against a Llynfi Valley side in as many weeks in division six of the South Wales Association and suffered a similar fate, losing by 57 runs to second-placed Maesteg.
Maesteg batted first and scored 193-9, Lloyd Wilkshire top-scoring with 63.
Sion Lloyd Evans bowled well with 4-15, while Iestyn Jones and Jac Davies picked up a couple of wickets each.
An opening stand of 44 between Guto Llewelyn and Dafydd Llewelyn (22) looked promising for Ammanford, but subsequent batsmen were unable to build on it.
Llewelyn was able to resist until the eighth wicket with 54, but Ammanford eventually fell well short of their target and were all out for 136 in the penultimate over.