SWCA Second XI Division One

Ammanford (293-7) drew with Maesteg Celtic (174-9)

Ammanford Second XI were left to rue their luck as they could only manage a draw against visiting Maesteg Celtic despite a scintillating century from opener Huw Jenkins.

Skipper Nathan Jones, bolstered by a couple of First Teamers in need of a knock, had no hesitation in deciding that Maesteg Celtic should bowl on a perfect track at The Park.

Jenkins and Rhodri-Huw Davies opened up and put on over 200 to justify the decision. Veteran Jenkins smashed 125 off 121 balls, including 21 fours and two sixes before nicking one to the wicketkeeper.

Davies meanwhile fell in the nervous nineties, finding himself back in the hutch with a cultured 93 to his name.

After their magnificent platform it was inevitable that others would fail in the quest for a further run push, but Liam Owen with 28 in 18 balls helped get the score to a formidable 293 for seven.

The hosts then set about making in-roads into Celtic’s top order and Rhys Price made an early breakthrough, but a stubborn 58 from Rhodri Thomas, and then an unbeaten 31 from Roland Kay saw the visitors meandering towards a classic bore-draw.

However, the introduction of three spinners with an average age of 12 in the form of Rhys Jones, Steffan Phillips and Eirian Morgan, hardly bowled a bad ball between them, and combined to bowl 24 overs for six wickets at a cost of just 73 runs.

The trio's efforts - with Jones the star performer thanks to his four-wicket haul for 23 - took Maeteg to nine-down and brought Ammanford to within a wicket of victory.

Phillips and Morgan also claimed a wicket each with Phillips adding a run-out.

Skipper Jones heralded the bright future of Ammanford cricket as he encouraged his young charges to lead the team from the field to deserved applause.