RACHELS Talybont won a thrilling encounter in the West Wales Cricket Conference as they chased down Aberaeron’s total of 240 for 9 scored from their full 40 overs, to win with two wickets to spare.

Talybont captain John Glasby won the toss and put Aberearon in to bat on a dry wicket, that had been covered during morning rain. The Talybont bowlers got the ball swinging under cloudy conditions, but Aberaeron’s openers started brightly before the introduction of Joseph Joshi into the attack paid dividends.

Joshi bowled openers Alex Pitchford for 24 and had John Fice caught for 32 in quick succession, to make it 65 for 2, with both batsman having struck 4 fours.

This bought Steffan Rees to the crease and Talybont’s nemesis Chris Strange, who had recently scored 147 not out against them in the Welsh Cup round one.

Both scored freely after careful starts, before Strange was very well caught by Ben Harper on the boundary off the bowling of Robin Woodfood for 32, with 4 fours, just as he was looking to open up.

At 141 for 3, Rees was joined by his father Hywel and the pair ran very well between the wickets, as well as hitting some lusty blows to keep the runs coming.

The partnership was finally broken by Woodford who trapped Hywel Rees for 30, including 4 fours, to make it 213 for 4.

Woodford then had Steffan Rees smartly caught by Phil Abraham for an excellent 81, which included 8 fours and a six.

The Talybont bowlers bowled the remaining overs tightly, and took three more cheap wickets, leaving Aberaeon on 240 for 9 after their 40 overs. Woodford finished with 4 for 55 from 9 overs and Joshi 2 for 28 from 6 overs. Grayson John took 1 for 30 and Phil Abraham 1 for 44.

In reply, Talybont lost early wickets and their batsmen were really struggling until a partnership between opener Vinod Mathew and Joshi steadied the ship.

Joshi, batting at number five, was caught off the bowling of Alex Pitchford for 24, but Anish joined Mathew, who was by now batting beautifully as they began to catch up with the required run rate.

Anish was eventually caught for a rapid 38, quickly followed by Vinod Mathew for an excellent 79 as the match swung dramatically back in Aberaeron’s favour.

Huw Chambers and Sojan kept Talybont in the game, before both fell for 15, before John Glasby and Grayson John forced the winning runs with 3 balls to spare.

The wickets were shared fairly evenly as Paul Hughes, 2 for 28 from 9 overs, Pitchford, 2 for 19 from 4 overs, and Strange, 2 for 29 from 4 took two wickets apiece for Aberaeron. Steff Rees took 1 for 46 from 9 overs and Hywel Rees 1 for 51 from 9.