Aberystwyth Seconds (153 for 9) lost to Talybont (220 for 7) by 67 runs

TALYBONT left the Geufron field with a 67 run victory over Aberystwyth Seconds, having posted a challenging 220 for 7 and then holding their opponents to 153 for 9.

Talybont elected to bat on a fast and true pitch, and this was much to the taste of Aber’s Zaid Khan, who bowled an excellent opening spell and was unfortunate to claim only one scalp, that of Ben Harper, caught by wicket-keeper Rob Rudge for 4.

Martin Llewelyn also bowled very well and dismissed opener Joseff Joshi for a single, leaving Talybont at 9 for 2.

There followed an excellent stand of 90 between Huw Chambers (52) and Graison John (37) as they patiently dealt with the accurate bowling of Khan and Llewelyn.

At the drinks interval the Talybont score stood at only 60 for 2 but, on the resumption, the batting tempo increased as successive batsmen took toll of some loose bowling by the home team’s bowlers.

Once Chambers and Graison were dismissed, Phil Abraham (37), Dave Barrow (21) and G Smith (34 not out), scored at will, although Tom Constantine and Titus Mathew did well under pressure.

Smith came in to bat at 163 for 5 and in seven overs helped the score along to an impressive 220 for 7, with the help of 3 sixes and 2 fours. Aberystwyth’s best bowlers were Zaid Khan (2 for 24 from 9 overs) and Martin Llewelyn (1 for 19 from 9).

Aberystwyth’s reply did not start well as Phil Abraham quickly dismissed Nigel Salmon and Amlyn Ifans, and Zaid Khan soon followed, leaving the hosts 23 for 3.

Opener Ted Trewella, now joined by Tom Constantine, battled on, however, and together they added 44, before Graison John dismissed Constantine for 18.

James Breese and Trewella took the score to 105, at which point Breese was caught for 18 and Trewella followed soon after for a defiant 43. The score soon became 128 for 9, but some interest remained as the Aber pair of Rudge and Llewelyn looked to salvage their team a batting point.

However, the pair fell seven runs short of their secondary target on 153 for 9, with Rudge on 19 not out. For Talybont Rachels, Phil Abraham took 2 for 9 in five overs, Graison John 4 for 22 in 9 overs and Dave Barrow 2 for 13 in 6 overs, to help bring them their victory by 67 runs.