Nicholls stars as Stags stay in front
CALLUM Nicholls stole the show as St Fagans bounced back to winning ways with a 144-run win at Newport in the South Wales Premier Cricket League.
The Stags suffered a shock defeat against Usk last week, but looked back to their best here as they stayed top of the table.
Opener Nicholls led the charge with a brilliant knock of 136 in his side’s total of 256 all out. His runs came off 127 deliveries and he hit four sixes and 13 boundaries. Skipper Owen Morgan added 40. Morgan’s fine match continued as he took 4-36 as Newport were all out for 112. Michael Clayden scored 31.
Bridgend remain in hot pursuit after they claimed a 146-run win at Ammanford.
Visiting skipper Sam Wood made 93 and Thomas Cogbill provided excellent support with 69 as Bridgend rattled up 299-7 in their 50 overs. Cian Roach took 5-57. Tomos Jones then claimed 5-35 as the home side were all out for 153. Tom Pearce chipped in with 3-13.
Rhodri-Huw Davies made 51 for Ammanford, with Saihaj Jaspal adding 31.
Pontarddulais stay third after beating Cardiff by 48 runs.
Mathew Fisher scored an excellent 77 and Sam Jardine made 50 as Bont reached a total of 251-7.
It proved enough as the capital side were all out for 203. James Meggitt top-scored with 68 for Cardiff, with Sam Swingwood making 35.
Reigning champions Swansea suffered a surprise 18-run defeat at Neath, who began the day bottom of the table.
Neath’s win was built around a majestic 159 by Vriitya Aravind. He faced 139 balls and cracked 21 fours and two sixes.
Brad Wadlan was Swansea’s best bowler with figures of 4-32.
Wadlan gave the visitors hope in their run chase with a fine innings of 90, with Daniel Rowe adding 39. But Swansea could only reach 257-9.
Cameron Bamford and Richard Edwards both took three wickets for Neath.
The match between Usk and Pentyrch was abandoned with Usk on 47-5. Sam Geary had taken three of the wickets to fall.
Abergavenny are still top of Premier League 2 after winning by 55 runs at Port Talbot Town.
Opener Ryan Avery paved the way for Abergavenny’s success with a brilliant knock of 106. The next highest scorer was William Glenn (30) as they were all out for 213.
Charlie Miles took 4-45 and Stuart Phelps 3-30.
Owen Harris took 3-25 and Sam Clarke 3-40 as the hosts were dismissed for 158. Rajesh Dhobi scored 68.
Cowbridge won the battle between second and third as they saw off Penarth by 54 runs.
Ali Haiser’s innings of 83 proved crucial as Cowbridge were all out for 165. Mark Thomas took 4-43.
Cowbridge’s total proved more than enough as Penarth were dismissed for 111. Muhammad Ilyas took 3-5.
Ynystawe won a tight clash at Dafen Welfare to go third in the table.
Luke O’Connor top-scored with 61 as Dafen reached 215-9 in their 50 overs. He was given fine support by Abdullah Rahimi (39), skipper Matthew Evans (33) and opener Simon Holliday (33).
Thomas Morgan took 4-36. Ynystawe reached their target for the loss of seven wickets, with Matthew Blake leading the way with 71. His runs came off 58 balls, with Callum Daniels (31 not out) and Nathan Lee (30) providing excellent support.
Muhammad Uzair took 3-39 for the Llanelli side.
An unbroken partnership of 192 between Greg Thomas and Max Phillips steered Mumbles to a sevenwicket win at home to Ynysygerwn.
The pair came together with the hosts in trouble at 46-3 in pursuit of a victory target of 236. But Thomas made 96 not out and Phillips 81 not out as Mumbles won with more than eight overs to spare.
Ynysygerwn had earlier reached 235-9. Alex McCormack led the way
with 69, with Nathan Davies (40), Sam Mogford (39) and Morgan Hodges (32) all chipping in.
Sam Harris took 3-46 for Mumbles. Chepstow beat visiting Clydach by 25 runs. Ben Sidney-Jones scored 59 as the hosts made 241-8. Sam HopeBell added 47, Gareth Ansell 34 and Scott Bailey an unbeaten 32. Clydach’s Harri Edwards took 4-53. The Swansea Valley side were always in with a chance in their run chase thanks to the efforts of Jo Farthing (48), Jonathan Hubschmid (45), James Garland (34) and Steff Davies (31).
But they fell short on 216-9 as Luke Watson led the way for the Chepstow attack with figures of 4-37.