Jerry hat-trick sparks vital Talybont Rachels 2nds win

TALYBONT Rachels 2nds’s battle to avoid the ‘Fine and Country’ Conference wooden spoon was given a boost with a victory at the Geufron, helped by a notable bowling feat.

The game was preceded by a minute’s silence in memory of the late Aberystwyth CC stalwart Norman Williams. A moving tribute was given to a fine player and gentleman by Anthony Evans.

Home captain Graham Saunders won the toss and elected to bat.

Dylan Garner looked to reward him by striking three boundaries off the second over, and with Dan Ponting hoisting Milton John over the ropes, a big total seemed in the offing.

The first ball of the sixth over proved decisive, Ponting being bowled by Joseph Thomas for 11 with the score on 32.

The next over saw the departure of Iestyn Roberts, caught by Thomas at point off John.

Jack Allen has added power to his game this year, and he and Garner scored freely off the next eight overs.

The score had reached 80 when Garner, having just reached a fine 50, was caught by Blenesh Jose at slip, Thomas being the bowler.

Jestus Jerry then enticed Nigel Salmon to hole out to Titus Mathew. Ben Willis joined Allen and the pair rebuilt fluently, putting on 68 in 13 overs.

Willis’ power earned him a six. At 150 – 4, a good total was in prospect, but Titus Mathew enticed Allen to mistime a shot to mid-on, Jestus taking the catch.

Late season pitches often prove a godsend to wrist-spinners, and Jestus now came into his own.

Bowling his flattish leg-breaks at a brisk pace, he first bowled Willis for 20 and then trapped Saunders LBW for 13.

To mounting excitement, he immediately rattled the stumps of the following two batsmen to claim a notable hat-trick, four wickets falling on 166. Morgan Ashton battled to put runs on the board but could only watch as the last wicket was also claimed by Jestus to wrap up the innings on 178.

Jestus ended with the magnificent figures of 6-15, Thomas supporting with 2-48.

Vinod Mathew and Rebin Rajan needed to blunt the Aberystwyth attack, but Graham Saunders put his side back in the mix by bowling Rebin for 11.

Using a full length, he trapped both Mathew and Jose LBW, and with Rhys Jones winning a similar verdict against Thomas, a score of 60-4 meant all was to play for after 13 overs.

The game swung back to the batting side’s favour with an exciting stand between Titus Mathew and Mudit Bohra.

Both played fearlessly, with Titus at his stylish best and Bohra seizing on anything loose. With the score on 120 Bohra was dismissed for 26, failing to clear a fielder as he took on the left-arm spin of Dan Ponting.

Sreeraj then ensured that their work was not in vain, hitting two sixes in a brisk 23 that took the game beyond doubt.

Aiming for another big hit, he was bowled by Nigel Salmon. The experienced seamer was soon amongst the wickets again, an athletic swoop by Ponting persuading Milton John to hole out for 7 with the end in sight. Jestus appropriately accompanied Titus past the chequered flag, the latter unbeaten on 70.

Saunders took 3-34 and Salmon 2-34. The ‘Homely Baskets’ man-of-the-match was Jestus Jerry.