Aberaeron (202 for 7) beat Aberystwyth (201 for 6) by 3 wickets

ABERAERON further reduced the odds on winning the West Wales Conference Championship with a three wicket victory over visitors Aberystwyth Seconds.

It was no walkover by any means, with bottom of the table side Aber posting a respectable 201 for 6, before their overs ran out, but the home side finally got the win bonus on 202 for 7.

Zaid Khan (71) and Tom Constantine (50) led the scoring for Aber, but the reply was a steady one with John Fice (20), Dave Grinszpan (43), Chris Strange (26), Hywel Rees (31) and Alex Pitchford (23) all contributing to the successful run chase, which finished with eight overs to spare.

A major concern for Aberaeron was the whether any result could be achieved, as the forecast had suggested this was most uncertain.

It was dry for the start of the match, however, and Aberaeron, having won the toss, decided to field.

Paceman Simon Mitchell got the early wicket, with Ceri John edging behind for 6, and a sharp one-handed catch by keeper Dave Floyd.

This brought in talented youngster Zaid Kahn, who did not disappoint, punishing any lose deliveries severely, with a succession of powerful pull shots for four.

Rowan Dunbabin saw off the opening attack of Mitchell, only to be deceived by the league’s leading wicket taker, Paul Hughes, who bowled him off an inside edge for 21, with 2 fours.

Hughes was in the action again straight afterwards, with a juggling catch by Sam Jenkinson dismissing Iestyn Evans, and bringing in another promising young talent in Tom Constantine.

He and Zaid Khan put together a solid partnership, until another catch at square leg by Jenkinson ultimately saw the end of Khan on 71, with 11 fours and a six.

It was a just reward for Josh Roper, having bowled well to peg back the scoring.

John Fice then caught Ted Trewella (21) off Mitchell.

With rain starting to fall, the innings closed on the final scheduled ball with a nice catch by Sion Lewis, running backwards at extra cover, to give Hughes a third wicket, that of Constantine who scored 51, for his maiden half century.

The visitors had posted a competitive total of 201 for 6. Simon Mitchell finished with figures of 2-21 off his 9 (two maidens), Josh Roper 1-41 off 9, but best bowling again was from Paul Hughes, with 3-37 off his 9 overs.

Despite the rain during the tea interval, the Aberaeron innings started without delay. Openers John Fice and Dave Grinszpan survived early wobbles, and then pushed the score on at a rate by taking good advantage of any loose deliveries.

Grinszpan, heading rapidly to a half century, fell at 43, edging an Augustine Benny delivery for a clean catch by keeper Ceri John.

The introduction of Chris Strange did not slow the scoring. He hit two fours and two sixes in his 22, before Dunbabin confidentially caught him on mid-on boundary, a reward for Trewella who bowled well.

In the meantime, John Fice, on 21, hit the ball cleanly to Ted Trewella at square leg, who took an excellent catch diving forwards to give young spin bowler Titus Mathew a worthy wicket.

Captain Hywel Rees and Alex Pitchford came together with the team still needing 81 to win, but with plenty of overs to do it.

They they pressed on with some fine strokes. A rocketed straight drive by Rees to take him to 31 was followed by the offer of a sharp return catch to Zaid Kahn, which he took in his stride.

Rowan Dunbabin bowled with control in his second spell. He had the measure of Pitchford, now on 23 and the team on 182-5, and Trewella caught a spooned drive at extra cover.

Josh Roper bludgeoned a few boundaries for his 9, before Dunbabin bowled him.

With the required rate at less than 2 per over, the vastly experienced Dave Floyd was not taking any chances. He carefully blocked, left or missed the good deliveries, with Dunbabin and Trewella continuing to bowl well.

Trewella bowled Sion Lewis, and there were some nerves amongst the Aberaeron team with 19 needed and just 3 wickets in hand.

Floyd and Mitchell, both 7 not out, took the total to the target. The match finished as the first ball of the 35th over was adjudged wide.

Best bowling figures for Aberystwyth, which were identical, were Dunbabin and Trewella with 3-36 off 9.