Aberystwyth one win from third promotion in a row

ABERYSTWYTH returned to the Geufron after a dormant weekend the previous week looking to take their promotion hopes into the final weekend of the season, writes Adam Shaw.

Before play commenced both sides observed a moments silence in respect of Norman Williams, past club captain and chairman, who’s recent passing came as shock to the club and those who knew him.

Having lost the toss and being asked to field, Aberystwyth opening bowlers Bryn Williams and Ted Jones set about making inroads to the Maesteg top order.

The first two wickets fell to sharp catches in the cordon to Ceri John and keeper Adam Shaw, with each of the bowlers taking a wicket, leaving Maesteg 34-2 after 8 overs.

This brought T. Davies (52) to the crease with open N. Evans, and the pair looked to rebuild the Maesteg innings.

Both batted with respect of the Aberystwyth bowling, latching on to anything loose.

At drinks, they had moved the score on to 109 and soon after pressed the accelerator button reaching 170 in the 31st over.

The partnership was broken courtesy of a sublime piece of fielding from Aron Bishop, who rocketed the ball from the boundary, into the gloves of Shaw to run Davies out by several metres.

Evans, edging towards his hundred, continued to punish the Aberystwyth bowlers eventually getting to three figures in the 35th over off the bowling of Steff Roberts.

Nonetheless, a few balls later Roberts took a full stretched diving caught and bowled opportunity to remove the danger man for 105.

A second wicket came from Roberts off the following ball signifying the end of an eventful over, leaving Maesteg on 201-5 with 5 overs remaining.

It was at this point where Aberystwyth looked to turn the screw and minimise the total.

Two overs later, Roberts returned to bowl on a hat-trick, and with great delight forced a mistake out of the opposition batter who played on to his own stumps.

At the end of the innings Roberts was supported at the other end by the returning Ted Jones, who took the final 3 wickets of the innings finishing with figures of 4-33 off 7.

This left Maesteg on 228-9 off their 40 overs.

In reply, Aberystwyth openers Steffan Roberts and Iestyn Roberts got off to a cautious start knowing that a good first 10 overs would be the building blocks for chasing down the opposition total.

The pair bed themselves in playing stroke after stroke with ever increasing impetus.

At 10 overs gone the score was on 42-0, and it was here where they switched into the next gear, trading scoring shots with each other.

Iestyn was unfortunately caught and bowled for 40 by N. Thomas in the 16th over resulting in a partnership of 94.

This brought Ceri John to the crease hot off the back of his previous unbeaten 50 two weeks before.

He picked up the reigns immediately, scoring 8 fours out of his first 12 scoring shots, playing some exquisite cover drives in the process.

At drinks Aberystwyth were well in front of the run rate having a total of 139-1.

The flowing runs didn’t stop there as both batters pressurised the opposition bowlers throughout the next 10 overs with boundaries and quick running between the wickets.

It became increasingly likely that Aberystwyth were going to reach the target, yet the interest in Roberts score provided most investment as the number of runs required reduced.

At the start of the 32nd over, only 8 runs were required with Roberts on 96, but importantly on strike.

A boundary off the second ball of the over ensured he reached three figures adding to his first inning hat-trick.

Fittingly, his hard hitting partner John hit the winnings runs three balls later giving Aberystwyth an emphatic victory by nine wickets.

The pair had put on 135 for the second wicket with Roberts finishing on 101 not out, and John on 67 not out.

The final fixture of the season is away at Llangennech where a victory will confirm promotion for a third season running.

Furthermore, the loss by leaders Llantwit Major in their penultimate fixture means the title goes down to the final round with Aberystwyth still in with a chance of finishing top of the division.