Rencken so close to ton as Bronwydd pip Dafen

BRONWYDD came out on top in a real thriller at Dafen in their latest division one game in the South Wales Cricket Association.

Bronwydd skipper Oli Furneaux won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first against a team missing a couple of first-team regulars.

Mike Jones, promoted from the Seconds, was run out with the score on 18 by a direct throw, and after James Cale was caught behind for 17 with the score on 31, Furneaux joined Josh Rencken and the pair took the score to 124 when the skipper went for a patient 43.

Rencken stayed at the crease for an excellent unbeaten 98, receiving useful support from Carwyn Jones (10) and George Gleeson (18). As the overs were running out Bronwydd were hoping he could reach three figures to underline his undoubted ability, but he was two runs short at the end, with Bronwydd posting 210-6. For the home team, Matthew Donoghue took 2-43.

After tea the Dafen reply got off to the worst possible start as they found themselves 6-3, with Tom Gleeson taking two wickets in his first over.

Unlike in previous weeks, however, the Bronwydd bowlers began to lose a little control and Gethin Long (43) and Simon Davies (43) repaired the early damage to put the home team in sight of victory, with Donoghue 33 and Andrew Randall 23.

Dafen only needed to bat the overs out to steal victory from Bronwydd, but Tom Gleeson returned to the attack and took two more wickets, and when his brother George took the final wicket Bronwydd had won by 14 runs.

Tom Gleeson finished with 4-32 and James Cale 3-25 to give Bronwydd a well-deserved victory.