AMMANFORD began their 2023 campaign in positive style with a 49-run victory over Neath at the Park.
Put in to bat on a lively wicket, Ammanford lost their first three wickets to Neath’s opening bowler Richard Edwards with just 25 on the board.
Runs were proving difficult to come by, but middle order resistance from Saihaj Jaspal (28), supported by newcomer Fahad Sabir (16) together with Xavier Clarke (15) and young wicket-keeper Gruffudd Owen (16), gave Ammanford a total of 126.
Edwards was Neath’s most effective bowler with 4 for 19.
Ammanford were all out in 30 overs, and with an hour to go before tea, Neath went straight in to bat.
If Ammanford were anxious that their total might prove insufficient, their bowlers soon put their minds at rest with an excellent display of accurate pressure bowling.
Wickets fell regularly and runs were sparse as Neath were put to the sword for 77 in 23 overs.
Opening bowlers Fahad Sabir (3-23) and Saihaj Jaspal (2-28) made early inroads before Owen Davies firmly kept his foot on Neath’s throat with 4 for 17.
Ammanford gained an invaluable 16 points from this opening encounter which will stand them in good stead for next Staurday’s visit of last year’s Premier league runners-up Swansea who themselves opened with a convincing win against Port Talbot.
Ammanford second XI
Ammanford seconds blasted their way to be early table-toppers with a 144 run victory at Dafen.
Put in to bat, an opening partnership of 168 from evergreen skipper Carl Griffiths (112) and Martyn Cleveland (48) put Ammanford into an unassailable position from the off.
A further half century from Benjamin Thomas cemented their position as their innings closed on 292 for 2 after 45 overs.
Dafen’s response never really got off the ground, thanks to a blistering 6 wicket haul from Ammanford’s first change bowler Jacob Williams (6-16).
The home side’s only resistance came from Andrew Randell (34) as they crumbled to 138 all out in 38 overs.
