SWCA Division 1 (From South Wales Guardian)

SWCA Division 1

6:30am Wednesday 24th June 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share

AMMANFORD retained their second place behind league leaders Ynysygerwn after a gratifyingly competent victory against Port Talbot Town at the Park on Saturday.

A superb unbeaten 122 by opener Rhydian Harris was the highlight and mainstay of a winning innings built on a series of solid partnerships.

Winning the toss, Craig Maloney invited the Glamorgan-studded visitors to bat. He must have pondered the wisdom of his decision as Dan Cherry and Mark Wallace took them to 89 after 14 overs before Cherry was dismissed for 27.

Wallace (93) continued to reap a swift harvest until spinners Matthew Fisher (3-44) and Andrew Salter (2-64) put the brakes on a Port Talbot innings which looked to be getting out of control.

Wickets began to fall as the visiting batsmen became frustrated by the nagging spinners, eventually enabling Alun Evans to mop up the tail with 3 for 37.

Port Talbot were all out for 233 in 48 overs, which gave Ammanford an extra couple of overs to reach their target. Albeit a formidable task, Ammanford must have felt relieved at such an outcome since at one point they were looking at chasing a total of anything up to 300.

In reply, Ammanford’s openers Rhydian Harris and Matthew Fisher provided a worthy platform with the first of several substantial partnerships. When Fisher (26) was dismissed with the score on 56 after 10 overs, Alun Evans joined Harris to take the score confidently past the hundred mark.

With the departure of Evans (22), the remainder of the Ammanford middle order provided excellent support to lynchpin Harris. Steffan Jenkins (25), Andrew Salter (10) and finally Huw Evans (19no) took turns to accompany the Ammanford opener as he carried his bat for an excellent unbeaten 122 which included 18 fours and two sixes. The six wicket victory was achieved with nearly three overs to spare.

Ammanford took 26 points from this game, but victory for Ynysygerwn meant they had to be satisfied to remain in a stalking second place. Next week they visit Llangennech.

• Print
• Email
• Share