LITTLE PLAY POSSIBLE

ONLY one game in division one was played to completion on Saturday in the Peter Lynn & Partners Solicitors South Wales Cricket Association.

It was a frustrating day for nearly all clubs across the league’s eight divisions as most games started but were then thwarted by the persistent rain that swept in early in the afternoon.

The only game that finished in the top flight saw mid-table Tata Steel crash to a 96-run defeat at home to Aberdare, who moved to within two points of leaders Dafen as a result.

Matthew Griffiths (59), Liam Hughes (45), Thomas Rees (41no) and Richard Warren (20no) helped Aberdare to 190-2 in 36.1 overs before rain curtailed their innings.

But Tata’s reply never got going and they were shot out for 94 in 19.2 overs, opener Martin Lewis top-scoring with 16 as Nathan Spain took 3-26, Michael Weathersby 3-13, Griffiths 2-17 and Chris Hughes 2-14.

Dafen won the toss at home to Bronwydd and chose to bat. With one eye on the weather they made rapid progress to 150-3 off 26 overs thanks to Julian Griffiths (34 off 36 balls), Simon

Holliday (49no off 53 balls) and Simon Jones (24 off 38) before the rain put the kibosh on things.

Gowerton travelled to Llandysul where the hosts decided to bat first. With rain falling steadily the hosts made a positive start and when the rain became more persistent the teams were forced from the field with the hosts on 105-2. Rhys Jones (33no), Ben Edkins (31) and Rhidian Harries (28) all made good contributions. For Gowerton, spinners Tom Clarke and James Cable took a wicket each.

Baglan’s home game against Maesteg Celtic was similarly abandoned with Celtic on 145-0 after 32 overs (Nick Poole 70no, Sam Watkins 56no), as was the Maesteg v Llangennech clash after 25 overs with Llan on 115-0 (Rhys Culley 60no, Nathan Richards (44no).

All five games in division two made a start but all fell victim to the rain.

There was more joy in division three where there were two results.

Gowerton Seconds hosted Porthcawl and two hours of rain in the middle of the Porthcawl innings reduced the game to one of 34 overs a side.

Porthcawl’s score of 170-8 saw Gowerton’s target set at 200 under the DLS method of deciding rain-affected games. Mark Dixon scored 64 for the visitors, with Ethan Harris taking 4-48.

Tom Sanu, Tom Parkin and Trystan Ovens were the other successful bowlers.

In reply, openers Rhys Hughes (24) and Ben Croydon put on 52 for the first wicket. Croydon (55) and David Roberts (61 from 40 balls) then advanced the score to 137 with an 85-run partnership, but Gowerton then lost wickets regularly to Stephen Richmond (3-25) and David Lewis (2-41), ending up six runs short on 193-7.

And Felinfoel also had a DLS win, beating Dyffryn by 77 runs after rain shortened their clash.

Foel made 124-2 in 32 overs before the rain came. Andrew Thomas made 33 and skipper Craig Richards 36 not out.

Dyffryn were set a revised target of 191 in 30 overs and that proved way too much for them as they fell to 113 all out, Owen Thomas top-scoring with 37 as Chris Bowen took 3-24 and Richards 2-20.

The scene at a soggy Headingley in Leeds on Sunday as the third one-day international between England and South Africa had to be abandoned, meaning the three-match series finished 1-1. It was a similar scene across West and South Wales on Saturday as most games made a start but then had to be abandoned due to the persistent rain.