ABERYSTWYTH Seconds produced a good performance at home to Talybont Rachels, before eventually going down by five wickets in their Girasol Homes West Wales Cricket match at the Geufron.

Zaid Khan (41) Chris Sproule (49) and Ioan Morris (47) helped Aber reach 178 for 7, but a stand of 78 between Joseph Thomas (51) and Neil Mistry (41) consolidated Talybont’s reply. Huw Davies added 39 valuable runs, and Dave Barrow was 25 not out when the winning runs were scored with five overs to spare.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Aber had lost a wicket with the first ball of the innings when opener James Breese fell victim to Milton John for 0.

The home side were then struggling on 24 for 3, with Ioan Bebb being bowled by Phil Abraham for 1 and Tom Constantine by John for 3, but Zaid Khan and Chris Spoule then took the Aber score on to 70.

Khan was finally caught by Abraham from the bowling of John for a knock of 41 runs, and Chris Sproule was denied a half-century in his first game of the season, when caught behind on 49 by wicketkeeper Sojan Varghese from Dave Barrow.

Aberystwyth youngster Ioan Morris kept the runs coming with 47 not out, with his highest score for the club to date. Young Titus Mathew was also 12 not out as Aber finished on 178 for 8 after 40 overs, with Milton John ending with 2 for 48 and Phil Abraham 2 for 32 for Talybont.

The first ball of the Talybont innings saw Emlyn Mainwaring bowl Ben Harper, but a crucial stand of 78 between Joseph Thomas (51) and Neil Mistry (40) revived the innings.

Huw Davies added 39 valuable runs, as did Dave Barrow, who finished on 25 not out when the winning runs were scored, with five overs to spare.

Mainwaring took 1 for 25, James Breese 1 for 43, Zaid Khan 1 for 20, Chris Sproule 1 for 16 and Tom Constantine 1 for 8 for the Aberystwyth second team.

The scheduled match between Aberaeron and Tywyn was postponed until 25 August. This weekend the West Wales Conference clubs are competing in the annual T20 competition at Y Geufron.