Ammanford 239-7 drew with Llangennech 149-8 SWCA Division 1 (From South Wales Guardian)

Ammanford 239-7 drew with Llangennech 149-8 SWCA Division 1

11:45am Wednesday 1st July 2009

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AMMANFORD lost a golden opportunity to significantly close the gap on leaders Ynysygerwn when they had to be satisfied with a draw at Llangennech. At one point on Saturday the Ammanford bowlers had Llangennech at 8 for 4, but with over 40 overs in hand failed to mop up the remaining six wickets.

Ammanford had posted up a decent enough score.

Losing the toss, they were put in to bat, though would probably have selected that option themselves in a bid to take maximum points from their lowly hosts.

Rhydian Harris and Matthew Fisher gave the visitors their usual fine platform with an opening stand of 52 in 10 overs before Harris was caught for 24.

With Alun Evans as his new partner, Fisher was in voracious form and raced to 78 before being caught and bowled. With the score at 124 for 2 and just over half their allocation of overs left, Ammanford looked poised for another menacingly huge total.

Llangennech though had other ideas. Stuart Goddard (3-42) and Owen Morgan (2-37) tied up Ammanford’s middle order, and with 10 overs left less than 40 runs had been added for the loss of three further wickets.

Evans (75) responsibly stayed at the crease until the end, and partnerships with Rhys Davies and Dean Cosker took Ammanford to a very respectable 239 for 7 at tea.

Evans continued what should have been a match-winning contribution after the interval, when he and Tom Maynard took two quick wickets each to reduce Llangennech to 8 for 4 in 9 overs.

Maximum points were openly beckoning, but again Llangennech had other ideas. Stubborn resistance by Stuart Goddard (27) and Steven Donoghue (38) held up Ammanford’s assault, and despite four further victims for Dean Cosker, the reigning champions still needed two more wickets with 12 overs remaining.

They were thwarted by an unbroken ninth wicket stand of 57 from Jason Taube (20no) and Simon Clement (33no). Llangennech held out for a draw, closing on 149 for 8.

With 19 points, Ammanford closed the gap at the top by 4 points.

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