ABERAERON continue to lead the way in the West Wales Cricket Club Conference, after they maintained their unbeaten record with a three wicket victory over visitors Aberystwyth Firsts.

Openers Ceri John (61) and Zaid Khan (45) gave Aberystwyth a solid start to their innings, but wickets fell after they departed, until Gareth Lewis (26) and Ioan Morris (10 not out) pushed the score to 161 for 6, before the overs ran out.

Neil Snowdon, who took 3 wickets for 34 runs, and Paul Hughes (2 for 19) topped the bowling for Aberaeron, who had won the toss and elected to field.

The hosts’ successful reply of 165 for 7 got back on track following the early loss of Dave Grinzpan for 8, thanks to the combined efforts of opener John Fice (54) and Chris Strange (32). Neil Snowdon (15) Sion Lewis (12) chipped in with runs for the Aberaeron cause, as did Louis Fice with 10 not out to help secure victory.

Tom Constantine (2 for 21) and Gareth Lewis (2 for 51) led the Aberystwyth bowling with Ted Trewella and Titus Mathew picking up one wicket each.

On Sunday, Commoners proved it was a good day to win the toss and bat first as they scored 245 for 5 against Aberystwyth Seconds, before winning by 127 runs.

Ian Lawton (90) and Wil Copeland (72) put on the bulk of the runs for the Commoners with a third wicket stand of 132.

Copeland followed up with 2 for 15 as the Aber innings was dismantled to 118 all out. Bill Somerfield (3 for 8) Chris Ward (2 for 47) and Colin Smith (2 for 9) also did their bit with the ball for the Commoners, while Tom Williams (35), Alwyn Davies (24) and Zaid Khan (23) tried their best to hold the Aber reply together. Anthony Evans took 2 for 40.

There was no closer a finish in the league than between Talybont and Tywyn, with the winning run for Talybont scored off the last ball of the match by Nijo John in a last wicket stand with Jijo Manuel.

Tywyn batted first and posted 184 for 5, courtesy of a fine unbeaten half-century from Dave Jenkins (66 not out) with runs by Eddie Iffla (41) and Richard Rees (38).

Sojan Varghese took 2 for 42 for Talybont, with one wicket each for Philip Abraham, Dave Barrow and Josheff Joshi.

Joshi was on form as well with the bat and his 45, along with a fine knock of 80 by Dave Barrow set the scene for a tense finish. Two wickets each from Callum Taylor, Richard Rees and Dave Jenkins all but swung it in favour of Tywyn, but for the staying power of the last two Talybont batsmen ensured a home win.

• Fortunes continue to look up for Llanidloes, who made further inroads in the Shropshire Cricket League division four with a four wicket success over Quayside.

Having restricted their Shrewsbury visitors to 154 for 9 from 40 overs, after winning the toss, they overcame a mid-innings wobble to get home with just under four overs to spare to claim 20 points.

Russell Swallow was the pick of the Llanidloes bowlers, dismissing both Quayside openers on his way to impressive figures of 2 for 5 from his eight overs.

Llani suffered a blow with skipper and opening bowler James Denham only able to bowl four overs due to a shin injury, but the rest of the attack kept it tight, with Eogan Jones, Ioan Swallow and Clive Jones all picking up a wicket, while wicket-keeper Geraint Evans ran out top scorer Neil Williams for 68 in Quayside’s 154.

Chasing 155 for victory, the hosts got off to a super start in reply, Will Denham leading the way with 58, before being stumped, and Evans weighed in with 25.

The opening pair put on 97 for the first wicket, before a flurry of wickets threatened to undermine their good work.

Dave Moody, however, hit out for an unbeaten 29 to guide the side over the line. Ian Plant picked up 4 for 36 for the visitors, and Jamie White took 2 for 27.

Victory, their fifth in their last seven outings, lifted Llani into the top half.