Aberystwyth (181 for 8) lost to Aberystwyth Exiles (251 for 6) by 70 runs

ABERYSTWYTH Exiles returned to the Geufron ground to record a 70-run victory over their hosts, with Sion Lathwood leading the way with a fine knock of 98 in their total of 251 for 6 after 40 overs.

The visitors had won the toss and elected to bat first, and openers David Wells and James Breeze looked in good form, before the latter batsman fell LBW to Titus Mathew for 8, and Wells followed in the same way to Omair Syed for 21.

The three next partnerships proved to be the dominant part of the innings, as Aled Lewis, 40, Sion Lathwood, 98, and Peter Evans, 38, attacked from the onset and the scoreboard raced along, and the Aberystwyth attack was under pressure.

Zaid Kahn was the exception, bowling 8 overs for 19, and troubling all three batsmen. Lewis played many fine shots in bhis 40, including six boundaries, before being bowled by Nigel Salmon on 1-43.

Lathwood dominated proceedings in a fine 130-run partnership with skipper Evans. He struck 8 fours and 6 sixes, and looked certain to reach a century, before holing out to Mathew at long on for 98.

Mathew bowled Evans for 38 as his flighted off-spin returned 3-43, in an great controlled spell. Anthony Evans, 1-14, accounted for Spencer while Rhys Ap Gwyn, 10, and William Steeds, 3, closed the innings on 251 for 6 off 40 overs.

Aberystwyth knew they had to bat well to get near the total, but they had the worst possible start as Ceri John was bowled for 0 by Hywel Owen. A good partnership between Anthony Burrell,17, and Titus Mathew, 41, then followed, before Burrell was bowled out by Owen.

Tom Constantine, 12, was bowled by Peter Evans, but Zaid Khan, 14, accelerated the score to 114, before being caught by Aled Lews on the long on boundary.

When Mathew fell, bowled Breeze, the home side were in trouble at 81-4. However, they fought on, and young batsmen Steff Davies and Ioan Morris, 16, both attacked. Davies moved to a fine half century, which included 7 boundaries.

Wickets then began to fall, with Salmon, Dylan Jenkins and Morris all being bowled as the innings closed on 181 for 8. Davies was undefeated at the close, with all the Exiles’ bowlers picking up wickets, including Owen finishing with 2-13, Wells 1-44, Breeze 1-43, P Evans 2-35, A Lewis 1-15 and Lathwood 1-15.

The Tomos Owen Trophy was presented to skipper Peter Evans for the second time since its inauguration after an excellent game of cricket, on a beautiful day.

Sion Lathwood and Steff Davies deservedly picked up Men of the Match trophies, in what was an excellent tribute to the Club’s popular former players.