Saints on high leave Aber in last day dog fight

ABERGAVENNY 1st XI’s fight to retain their South Wales Premier One status will go down to the wire this Saturday after a 70-run loss at high-flying St Fagans left them six points above the bottom two.

Sam Clarke won the toss and inserted the second-placed hosts, whose openers Steven Reingold and Jacob Blades reached 50-0 in the ninth over.

Aber then deployed spin from both ends, and Clarke struck in the 17th over bowling Reingold for 28 (91-1)

Blades had already passed his half century and within three overs they had over 100 on the board.

After drinks, Leo Long finally had Blades caught by Lloyd Sharp (132-2) for 75, before Ben Morris got rid of Jeremy Lawler for 34 (163-3).

The introduction of Abergavenny’s fourth spinner saw Mujihad Ilyas then trap Owen Morgan lbw for 13 almost straight away 164-4.

Sharp work by Joe Harris next had Lewis stumped off Mujihad (180-5), and the same combination saw off Fahad Anser, caught behind for one (182-6).

Clarke then took his second wicket in short order (185-7) before Ben Morris picked up Abergavenny’s fourth bowling point with the wicket of Zac Williams (207-8).

Morris then cleaned up the final two wickets (216 all out) finishing with 4-39, St Fagans losing their last six wickets for just 36 runs, with Ilyas taking 3-32, Clarke-2-37 and Leo Ling 1-36.

Lloyd Sharp was clean bowled by left arm Ollie Sherwood first ball of the Abergavenny reply, and new man Joe Harris was also soon back in the pavilion after holing out for six (21-2).

Baljeevan Khalsa was the next to fall, bowled by Rhodri Lewis for 17 (42-3).

And in the 21st over it became 60-4 with Morgan Bevans caught for 20, with Tom Pipe (16) and Toby Smith for a duck soon joining him (95-6).

Ilyas with a half century and skipper Clarke ensured a batting point and were still there needing 83 runs from the final eight overs.

But Clarke fell to Lewis for 24 (144-7), before Ben Morris was run out for a duck (144-8) and Ilyas bowled two runs later for 55, with four more needed for a second batting point.

And sadly they were all out for 146 in 44.4 overs, Lewys Wilkes-McCarthy out without scoring.

At least bottom two sides Penarth and Carmarthen also lost, meaning Aber can secure their top-flight status with victory in Saturday’s final make or break game at home to Pontarddulais.

Meanwhile, Abergavenny 2nds South East Wales 4 title hopes are hanging in the balance despite securing promotion, after a seven-wicket loss to basement visitors Pentyrch 2nds.

Aber found themselves reduced to 27-3, which brought together Ellis Jones and 12-year-old Ted Jackson, who put on 83 for the fourth wicket when Jones was out for 35.

However Ted – probably the club’s youngest ever 2nd XI debutant – marched on, batting with immense maturity and skill alongside Archie Eccles, to reach a brilliant 83 before being bowled (190-5), having fired 15 fours.

Eccles then reached 61 before holing out (221-6) and the table toppers eventually finished on 235-8.

But belying their lowly position in the league, Pentyrch’s openers took the Abergavenny bowlers to task, both operating at a run a ball to be 89-0 off 13 overs.

They reached 123 before losing their first wicket and only lost two more (181-2/ 213-3), reaching 239-3 with six overs to spare, Gruff Gibbs firing a magnificent 123 not out.

Abergavenny’s six points ensured another promotion, but the title is in the balance, with just a point lead over Pontymister & Crosskeys 1sts, and third-placed Dinas Powys 1sts away in their final game on Saturday.

But the 3rds won by the same seven-wicket margin at home to Pontymister & Crosskeys 2nds.

The visitors set 201-5 in their 40 overs, Ed Loose taking 2-33 Steve Brown 2-21 and Marc Morgan 1-35.

But having fired unbeaten knocks of 183 and 136 in his previous two innings, the prolific James Morris carried his bat again in reply, just missing out on yet another century with 98 not out.

He was well supported by Mihla Sibanda with a rapid 51 from 27 deliveries and Jaiden Caswell 25, and wicket keeper Will Jones 14 not out, as Aber reached 205-3 in 28.3 overs to sit comfortably in third in SEW 10, with Pencoed away this Saturday.

Aber 4ths also won by eight wickets away to Blaina 2nds in SEW 13, as Manuraj Raju bamboozled them taking 6-32 from his eight overs.

Blaina were 63-7, but the eighth-wicket pair put on 87 before Dinto Pappachan (3-18) claimed his second wicket (150-8), with the hosts finishing on 175 all out.

The 4ths then batted really well with as good a performance as they have had all season.

Openers William Morris with 72 and Barry French 43 put on 139 runs before both fell on the same score (139-2).

But Raju (19 not out) and Sashank Chavali (17 not out) saw them home to 179-2 with 8.4 overs to spare.

The 4ths in fifth host Blackwood Town 3rds at Crickhowell on Saturday.