Aberystwyth (306-0) beat Aberaeron (219) by 87 runs
With Aberystwyth 1st X1 mathematically pencilled in as the West Wales Conference Cricket League champions of 2021, Aberaeron were still keen to spoil the party for the home team.
A fine day and a good track at the Geufron promised a tough day for the bowlers, and indeed this is how the game panned out. Aberaeron opted to bowl first and despite the absence of their usual pace attack, Paul Hughes and Hywel Rees initially managed to trouble the opening batting pair, Steff Davies and Gareth Lanagan with probing length and some seam and swing. However, as the batters became accustomed to the lateral movement they began to rotate the strike with ease and find boundaries with increasing regularity. A quick outfield and some outstanding batting soon saw the home side cashing in and building a partnership that was to become a club record. Neither batter gave a genuine chance before reaching their centuries. Davies finished on 145 and Lanagan on 138, both unbeaten. The final Aberystwyth innings closed on 306 for 0 after 40 overs. To their credit, Aberaeron never gave in, their commitment in the field epitomised by Hywel Rees sprinting and diving in the 38th over to attempt a catch on the boundary.
The Aberaeron reply began brightly enough with Fice and Jenkinson tucking in to the seam bowlers as soon as the length was slightly errant.
However, Fice was then caught, slicing to backward point off the bowling of Ted Trewella and Jenkinson became frustrated by the accuracy and flight of Titus Mathews and edged an attempted drive to the keeper.
Hywel Rees bludgeoned an aggressive 57 until brilliantly caught by Mathews but the rest of the Aberaeron team failed to dent the 300 plus score of the hosts and fell well short of their target, mustering 219 all out from 36 overs.
The pick of the Aberystwyth bowlers was the talented 12-year-old Noa Jones who created mayhem in the Aberaeron ranks with late swing and genuine pace. He finished with 4 wickets for 33 runs, topped by castling the obdurate Paul Hughes, obliterating the off stump. Mention should also be made of Pat Daniel (2 for 46) and Titus Mathews (1 for 45) bowled with control and skill in very demanding conditions.