SPORT | Cricket:
Porthcawl 98 all out – Dafen 170 all out.
Lack of availability again cost Porthcawl dear in their first home outing of the season as they slumped to a 72-run defeat to Dafen at Locks Lane.
Although it was a much-improved performance by the Seasiders, their batting once again failed to function. The loss of three early wickets for just 18 runs, put the hosts on the back foot and they never really threatened a successful run chase after that, as wickets tumbled.
Skipper Nick Morgan survived 48 balls for his 13 and the only other batsman to cause the visitors any concern was David Lewis, whose run-a-ball 24 contained five boundaries. In fact, the star of the show for the Locks Lane side was extras – a staggering 41 runs out of a meagre total of 98 all out.
Pace was again the undoing of the early batsmen as veteran pace bowlers Andrew Randell, often a thorn in the side, gathered 3-15 from 8.5 overs, while his partner Andrew Herbert took 1-18 from six overs before an injury curtailed his stint. But Chris Hudson was the main destroyer, his nine overs yielding 4-15. Luke Dunning was the only bowler that the hosts got any measure of as he conceded 43 runs from seven overs, picking up a brace of dismissals.
Earlier, Dafen openers Jac Morgan and Oliver Evans gave their side a solid start, with 61 for the first wicket, Oliver Evans falling for 23 from 43 balls. Despite this platform, the side from the Llanelli suburbs were in serious trouble at 109-7 when Morgan’s excellent 52 was brought to a halt. He stroked 10 fours in a sprightly innings which proved crucial.
The visitor’s opening pace duo showed their mettle as batsmen with a vital 56-run partnership for the eighth wicket, Andrew Randell amassing a quick fire 32, with three fours, and Andrew Herbert hit 24 with four boundaries. Ioan Roberts chipped in with 11.
Four home bowlers grabbed two wickets apiece, from their 10-over stints, young leg spinner Spencer Morgan the pick with an excellent 2-14. David Lewis bowled accurately for his 2-27, while Mike Bailey took 2-38. Special praise is warranted for 14-year-old seam bowler Finlay Cannon, who entered the fray when the middle order went on the attack. Unaffected by an early onslaught, Cannon hit back superbly to take 2-32 from 4.2 overs. George Mead also bowled a steady second spell to finish with 1-37 from 10 overs.
Clydach Third X1 159-6 – Porthcawl Second X1 157-9.
Although Steve Richmond’s side fell to a narrow four-wicket loss at Clydach, the skipper will be encouraged by a much better performance than last week when the batting disintegrated.
Inserted by the hosts, Porthcawl’s veteran openers Blair Driscoll and Paul Mason gave the visitors a steady start before Driscoll was sent back for 17 and Mason for 16. But the major innings came from Adrian Shingler who, coming in at number three, played the highlight innings of his short career at Locks Lane with a blistering 51, his first half century for the club. It was a memorable knock and set his side up for a competitive total.
He was well supported by Kevin Rees, who cracked an impressive 24, while Chris Bevan was 11 not out when the innings closed after the allotted 40 overs, with the Seasiders handily placed on 157-9.
For the hosts, the wickets were shared, but Phil Barber was out in front with 3-20. Tim Walker took 2-11, David Wood 2-10, and there was a wicket apiece for Simon Thomas and Osian Davies. Porthcawl needed steady accurate bowling to contain the home side, but sadly it failed to materialise as 41 extras was a large chunk of the required total.
The loss of two early wickets gave the visitors a boost, Simon Thomas contributing 13, but the main damage came from the middle order, Ken Haney the villain with a well-constructed 37, and Mark Todd giving admirable support, with 23. Conor Starsfield added a stubborn 16 before evergreen Paul Crocker saw his side home with 16 not out.
Experienced Chris Bevan was the Seasider’s ace, with 2-21 from 8.3 overs, well supported by consistent Blair Driscoll, whose eight overs earned him 2-25. Steve Richmond’s leg breaks brought him a reward of 1-25 from eight overs and Tomas Owen chipped in with 1-37.
Reports by John Edwards
| Scroll down to comment on this article
• | Blundell blasts century in 93-run win for Barry Wanderers
Pencoed tangled up by ‘Seaweeds’
Primary school’s former deputy head is banned from teaching
I make no apologies for calling Plaid Cymru ‘separatists’
‘The importance of participation and continued learning’
Opposition leaders clash with First Minister over independence rally
How Kevin saved a stranger’s life
| Scroll down to comment on this article
