Davies century brings capital gain to ease relegation fear

YNYSYGERWN eased their relegation worries in the Swalec Premier League with an impressive four-wicket win at Cardiff.

Although the home side posted a strong 295-7 having been put in to bat, Ynysygerwn's Sam Davies smashed an unbeaten 116 from just 88 balls as the visitors reached their target with almost two overs to spare.

This victory leaves Ynysygerwn 20 points clear of the relegation zone with four games to play this season.

Ynysygerwn won the toss and elected to field in Cardiff, though they may have regretted that decision as David Kirtley (57) and Alun Thomas (90) put on 138 for the home side's first wicket.

Thomas's 90 came off only 64 balls and included three sixes, and Ynysygerwn breathed a sigh of relief when Richard Grant caught him off the bowling of Nicholas Maggs.

Maggs then removed Kirtley as a flurry of wickets left Cardiff on 168-4, with Alex McCormack claiming two wickets.

Paul Carter (52) and Mark O'Leary (59 not out) injected fresh momentum into Cardiff's innings with a stand of 81, before McCormack bowled Carter.

He then snared a fourth scalp in the form of Matthew Smart, and Maggs dismissed David Elias as Cardiff finished with a very competitive score of 295-7.

Ynysygerwn's reply did not start well, as Kieran Howells was bowled by Amais Chouhdary for seven. But Richard Grant's arrival at the crease saw the pendulum swing back in the visitors' favour, as he and McCormack put on a stand of 86.

McCormack was dismissed by Chris Fowler for 41 and Grant went on to make 67 before falling to Smart.

By that stage, Ynysygerwn were 137-3 and Davies was well set. With Tom Phillips holding up one end with a composed 26, Davies was letting loose.

He cracked eight fours and five sixes as he helped the visitors hunt down their total at more than a run a ball.

Maggs (10) and Geraint Bowden (0) followed Phillips into the Pavilion, but Craig Evans kept Davies company as Ynysygerwn careered to 296-6 after 48.1 overs.

Ynysygerwn's cause was helped as fellow strugglers Newport fell just short against title-chasing Ammanford, who held on for a nail-biting winning draw.

Having won the toss and deciding to bat, Ammanford lost openers Rhydian Harries (3) and Rhodri-Huw Davies (6) before captain Alun Evans steadied the innings with a watchful 51.

When the ex-Glamorgan man departed, it was left to Andrew Salter to accelerate the scoring with an unbeaten 112 from 99 balls. With Matthew Roberts offering useful support with 31, Salter's century guided Ammanford to 244-6.

Newport made an excellent start in reply, as opener Michael Clayden carried his bat with an unbeaten 102.

He was given good support by Gary Wood (21), Imran Hassan (30) and Nathan Millichip (42), though wickets fell regularly to leave Newport 225-5.

Victory seemed within their grasp but they fell just short at 243-5, giving Ammanford a winning draw to stay within seven points of league leaders Sully.

Title contenders Mumbles claimed a winning draw in their local derby with Pontarddulais.

David Brown struck 120 as Mumbles finished on 224-9, with Arwel Thomas and Owen Morgan picking up three wickets each for Pontarddulais, while Glamorgan's Robert Croft claimed two scalps.

Pontarddulais fell 32 runs short of their target on 182-9, giving Mumbles a winning draw which sees them stay in third place and 15 points behind Sully.

Glamorgan batsman Will Bragg put Port Talbot Town to the sword as they fell to an emphatic nine-wicket defeat to Bridgend Town.

Sean Griffiths (71) and skipper Dan Cherry (88) amassed a stand of 120 for the second wicket as Port Talbot's innings began well, but no other batsman reached double figures as they were bowled out for 214. Bradley Wadlan took four wickets and Bragg claimed two.

Bragg then sparkled with the bat as he compiled a brutal unbeaten 143 from 114 balls, including 17 fours and five sixes.

Although Richard Edwards dismissed David Goodway for six, Port Talbot were powerless to stop Bridgend as Wadlan (52 not out) joined Bragg to help their side hurtle to 215-1 after just 30.1 overs.

Sully stayed top as they defended a total of 200 to beat Usk by 33 runs.