Aberystwyth Seconds (144 all out) lost to Aberystwyth Firsts (145 for 5) by five wickets

ABERYSTWYTH Firsts came out on top in their West Wales Conference match against the Seconds at the Geufron as half centuries from Zaid Khan and Ceri John steered them to 145 for 5 in 28 overs.

Invited to bat, the Seconds immediately lost Tom Constantine, when bowled by Gareth Lewis, second ball.

Progress was slow from there on against Lewis and the pace of Zaid Khan, but the introduction of spinner Rowan Dunbabin to the attack brought immediate reward as Carwyn Jenkins was lbw to the googly.

Dafydd Jones and Owen Keyworth then put together the best stand of the innings, with a succession of boundaries, taking the score from 19 for 2 to 78, before Dafydd Jones was well caught by Bryn Morris for 36.

Dunbabin then followed with further wickets, and when Keyworth (34) was caught the innings had collapsed to 101 for 7.

However, Gwern Penri (20 not out) and Ioan Morris (18) brought greater respectability to the score, before Khan’s re-introduction to the attack terminated the innings at 144. Rowan Dunbabin completed his spell with the excellent figures of 9-1-23-5.

In reply, the Firsts lost three wickets within 10 overs for only 27 runs, with two wickets for Tom Constantine (2-24) and Emly Mainwearing (1-29).

However, Zaid Khan and Ceri John batted very well to produce the highest stand of the match (113). Both of them passed fifty and brought their team to the cusp of victory before Ceri John was caught for a fine 50.

Ted Trewella was immediately caught by wicket keeper Carwyn Jenkins but, after a little tension, a scrambled leg bye saw the 1st team past the post at 145 for 5 in the 28th over. Zaid Khan finished undefeated on 63.