SWCA Division One

Ammanford (148-3) beat Aberdare (144-9) by seven wickets

Ammanford stretched their lead at the top of the first division to 33 points with an excellent seven-wicket win at Aberdare on Saturday.

Ammanford won the toss and put the hosts in to bat.

Sam Jones and Craig Maloney took an early wicket each, one of them a tremendous catch from captain Alun Evans to get rid of ex-Glamorgan veteran John Derrick.

Thereafter Aberdare found runs extremely hard to come by on an unpredictable wicket.

As usual, the second half of the Aberdare innings was dominated by the tight spin bowling of Matthew Fisher and Matthew Roberts.

The pair have torn through every SWCA side they have faced so far this season and find themselves sitting pretty in the upper reaches of the league’s wicket-taking table.

Fisher took three for 52, suffering a little at the end as Aberdare were trying their luck and throwing the bat around.

Roberts continued his excellent form with three for 42.

A late rally saw Aberdare reach 144 for nine with Ammanford frustratingly unable to capture the final wicket.

In reply, Ammanford lost both openers to lbw decisions.

Rhys Culley was rapped by a delivery which kept low, while Craig Maloney, who was looking increasingly in control, was astonished to be given out by a ball which seemed to be veering way down leg side.

The pitch continued to display erratic behaviour, but skipper Evans and Fisher lost little time in mastering the conditions and the bowlers.

Evans carried his bat once again with a terrific 70 not out, and Fisher would have done likewise had he not gone for the six to secure an extra batting bonus point. He was caught on the boundary for 51.

The victory was completed with 15 overs to spare.

Unbeaten Ammanford now boast an all but perfect record with seven wins and just one draw fromv their ten matches, with two abandoned due to the weather.

Next Saturday, Ammanford entertain mid-table Ynystawe at the Park.