OWEN STARS AS CHAMPS STAY ON TOP
OWEN Morgan was the hero as reigning champions St Fagans saw off in-form Swansea in the top-of-thetable clash in the South Wales Premier Cricket League.
In a surprisingly low-scoring contest, the Saints emerged victorious by 23 runs.
They looked in real trouble when they were all out for just 123 after being inserted to bat.
Kazi Szymanski and Cameron Hemp both took three wickets, but St Fagans wicketkeeper Adam Keane top-scored with what proved to be a valuable 47.
Swansea’s free-scoring batsmen piled up more than 1,200 runs in their first three games of the season, but they came unstuck here as they collapsed from a position of control at 53-1 to just 100 all out.
The Saints were indebted to skipper Morgan, who took 6-20 as the visitors fell to their first defeat of the season.
The closest finish of the day came at Ammanford, where Newport edged home by three runs.
Imran Hassan smashed seven sixes and seven boundaries in an entertaining knock of 112 not out, and shared a stand of 148 with Mujahid Ilyas (57) as the visitors reached 2596 in their 50 overs.
Saihad Jaspal took 3-26 for Ammanford.
An opening stand of 131 between Glamorgan’s Andrew Salter (44) and Kurtis Marsh (78) gave the hosts an excellent platform.
But they were dismissed in quick succession by Hasnain Nawaz, while Callum Taylor’s three wickets also helped put the brakes on the Ammanford response. Skipper Alun Evans made a quickfire 43 not out, but his side fell just short of their target.
Glamorgan’s Prem Sisodiya was in scintillating form as Cardiff recorded their first win of the season as they beat Pontarddulais by four wickets.
Bont collapsed from 136-2 to 160-9 after they chose to bat. Richard Grant made 47 and skipper Cameron Herring 35, but Sisodiya delivered the goods with a fine 10-over spell of 4-13.
He wasn’t finished there as he struck seven fours in a patient 69 which helped see his side to victory.
Greg Holmes added 40.
Lukas Carey and Iestyn Rees both took three wickets.
Joe Cooke produced a fine allround performance as Bridgend Town beat Port Talbot Town by 143 runs.
Cooke ran through Port Talbot’s top order to finish with 5-26 as the visitors fell to 53 all out in pursuit of a Bridgend total of 196.
He had earlier top-scored with 63 as the home side batted first. Opening partner Sam Wood made 37 and Troy St David Smith added a rapid 42. Port Talbot’s Joseph Voke took 4-45.
Clydach’s Sam Davies made the highest score of the day, smashing 161 as the Swansea Valley side eased to a 193-run victory over Neath.
The opener struck seven sixes and 20 boundaries as the hosts rattled up 297-4.
Skipper James Garland made 56 and Steff Davies 51.
Neath were all out for just 104 in reply, with Lorenzo Machado topscoring with 46.
Phil Barber took 4-18 and Jo Farthing 3-29.