Salter in control as Ammanford claim top spot (From South Wales Guardian)

Salter in control as Ammanford claim top spot

8:00am Wednesday 8th August 2012 in Sport

South Wales Premier League Cricket

Ammanford (179-6) beat Port Talbot (64)

 

Ammanford glided to the top of the Premier League with a resounding victory over Port Talbot at the Park on Saturday.

Ammanford lost the toss in a rain delayed match reduced to 39 overs per team and were put in to bat.

The young Davies brothers Rhys and Rhodri opened for Ammanford and compiled a stand of 34 before Rhodri was out for 12.

Alun Evans dominated the second wicket stand of 20 before he was out for 18.

He was followed by Rhys Davies (31) and Matthew Fisher (16) as a series of Ammanford batsmen managed to get into double figures but failed to capitalise.

At 134 for six, George Harvey (16no) joined Andrew Salter at the wicket and these two plundered 35 from the last four overs to give Ammanford a challenging total of 179 for six.

Salter hit an excellent unbeaten 61 which included three fours and three sixes.

Matt Donohue got Ammanford off to a dream start when he dismissed both openers in the same over, one of whom was ex- Glamorgan batsman Ian Thomas, with just 12 on the board. Mike Reed had Anthony Thomas caught behind with the first ball of the next over and Port Talbot were 12 for three.

He then repeated the double act with keeper Gareth Slade to remove Glamorgan’s Dan Cherry, and Port Talbot were reeling at 22 for five.

Ammanford kept up the pressure relentlessly and Port Talbot lost wickets regularly.

Only two of their batsmen, Dean Cox (14) and Lewis Jones (11) got into double figures and it was their last wicket stand of 17 which prevented extras from being their top scorer.

Port Talbot were all out for 64. Ammanford’s bowlers returned excellent figures, with Donohue taking three for 14, Reed two for nine, Roberts two for 19 and Salter completing a fine all round performance with two for nine.

Ammanford move eight points clear of Sully, whose game was called off, and nine points ahead of Mumbles who achieved a winning draw.

With three games remaining, Ammanford are ideally poised for their first realistic shot at the title.

The countdown is entirely in their own hands and it begins at Usk next Saturday.