Talybont (204 for 4) beat Commoners (203) by 6 wkts

Talybont Rachels put in a solid performance to defeat a depleted Commoners outfit by six wickets at the Geufron in their Girasol Homes West Wales Cricket Club Conference match on Saturday.

Skipper Phil Abraham won the toss, and had no hesitation in offering first use of a green-tinged pitch to Commoners.

His counterpart Rakesh Bhatia opened himself, and quickly struck two well-timed boundaries. In trying to clear long-on, however, he fell victim to an excellent catch by Vinod Mathew on the boundary for 10, Milton John being the bowler.

Nabeel Ahmed soon followed him back to the pavilion, being bowled by Mike Smith, having struck one boundary.

In response, Bill Sommerfield and Ravi Mander started to pierce the field, Sommerfield playing some deft late cuts and Mander pulling and driving powerfully.

Both, however, tempted fate once too often, with Mander being bowled for 21 by Milton John, pulling a ball never quite short enough, and Sommerfield dabbing the same bowler to Simon Lloyd-Williams at gully for 20, making it 77 for 4.

Will Copeland and Arshad Sher rebuilt sensibly, and there followed a long period of attrition, with neither team on top. With 10 or so overs remaining, Copeland (60) reached his half century, with seven boundaries and a very long straight six.

Sher had also moved to 31, including two tremendous leg side blows. Any visions Commoners had of a big total were shattered, however, as both batsmen perished in two overs, the wily Simon Lloyd-Williams inducing thick outside edges from both batsmen, Craig Errington taking one outstanding catch at slip, and Nijo John taking the other at point.

From 185 for 4, the innings faltered, and the innings closed at 203 all out in the 40th over. Abraham took 2 for 24, Milton John 3 for 53, Smith 1 for 25 and Lloyd-Williams 2 for 45. Commoners had posted a respectable total, but their batsmen got out whilst starting to look good.

Talybont wasted no time in getting going, with Vinod Mathew pulling several deliveries through mid-wicket. He was bowled by a perfect in-swinging yorker by Copeland for 22 with the score on 30.

Ben Harper had also opened the batting, and enjoyed a good contest with Nabeel Ahmed at one end, whilst Neil Mystery played himself in against Copeland.

Harper had got to 11 runs, but in trying to drive Bhatia, he fell to a stinging catch from the bowler in front of his face.

Commoners had by now introduced the wrist-spin of Sher, whose control and flight caused problems for the batsmen. He bowled a perfect leg-break to John Glasby, pitching middle and striking off, much to the admiration of all there.

Craig Errington knows how to attack, and got to 29 in no time at all, aiming to strike Sher off his length. He was looking to clear deep mid-wicket for the second time, but Nabeel Ahmed took a boundary catch off Sher to end his stay.

With the score at 116 for 4, the match was balanced, but Neil Mystery was playing well. Showing a very straight bat and impeccable defence, he stroked the ball elegantly, and the Commoners’ numerical deficiencies started to curse them.

Phil Abraham had showed his aggressive intention immediately, hitting his first ball to long-off boundary. In addition to their boundaries, Mystery and Abraham placed the ball deftly, resulting in overthrows and frustration for the fielding side The last 30 runs of the innings was a chanceless stroll for the batsmen, both hitting unbeaten half-centuries.

Mystery finished on 60, and Abraham 58. For the Commoners, Sher took 2 for 52, Copeland 1 for 19 and Bhatia 1 for 44.

A notable interlude had taken place during the tea interval, as a cake was shared to celebrate the birthdays of two league stalwarts on either side, Simon Lloyd-Williams and Bill Sommerfield.