South Wales Cricket

Premier League

Ammanford (221) lost to Port Talbot (251-5) by 30 runs

Ammanford were bowled out in the final over of their South Wales Premier League match at Port Talbot to lose by 30 runs.

Winning the toss, Ammanford gave the home team first knock, a decision which seemed to have paid off when Matthew Fisher’s seam bowling removed Port Talbot opener Mark Cox with the score on five.

Former Glamorgan players Dan Cherry and Ian Thomas had other ideas, however, and a stand of 169 between these two ended when Fisher bowled Cherry for 70.

Thomas (87) followed a couple of deliveries later when he was lbw to young Sean Coker whose figures of 1-21 in 10 overs represented an excellent spell of bowling.

With 14 overs to go, Port Talbot captain Sean Griffiths hit a further 46 to take his side to a formidable 251 for five at tea.

Hedd Jones and Craig Maloney got Ammanford’s response off to a tremendous start with a century coming up in 20 overs.

When Maloney was out for 27, Jones continued his sparkling form, only to eventually fall 10 short of his maiden century, having hit 10 fours and two sixes.

Ammanford were still set fair on 158 for two, but a couple of quick wickets changed the course of the match.

Fisher was lbw for 13, then keeper Gareth Slade was unluckily run out when a straight drive from Alun Evans at the other end was deflected by the bowler on to his stumps.

With two front-line batsmen missing, the onus was on captain Evans to steer his young later order batsmen home, but the occasion proved too much, and when the skipper was caught on the boundary for 48, Ammanford’s brave effort was ended.

They were all out with three balls remaining, and 30 runs short of their target.

The defeat leaves them in joint fifth position along with Cardiff and Neath.

Next weekend, Ammanford have two home matches. On Saturday they play bottom-of-the-table Mumbles while on Sunday they welcome Whitland in the Welsh Cup.