Cricket: Resolute Cotton keeps Pentyrch's hopes alive.
Byline: Thomas, Carroll South Wales Cricket LeagueWITH just three weeks remaining of the season, nothing has been settled in the Premier Division.
But reigning champions Pentyrch came close to a defeat on Saturday which could easily have cost them the championship.
Visitors Usk won the toss and batted first on a damp wicket and slow outfield which made runs hard to come by. Dave Harrison battled his way to their top score of 22, but they could only manage a total of 109 for nine after their 55 overs.
Pentyrch skipper Tony Smith again bowled a miserly spell of three for 16 in 15 overs, while Tony Brown took three for 31 and Martin Brown two for seven.
It looked a dawdle for the champions, but with Usk skipper Jake Roderick taking two for 24 and Owain Watkins three for 26, they found themselves struggling at 41 for six.
But opener Steve Cotton was still there and he defied the hostile Usk attack and the difficult conditions to put together a match winning 59 not out, while Kristian Bell got 18.
So Pentyrch stay top of the table from Sudbrook who were left kicking their heels because their game at Penarth was called off, but the race is far from over and St Fagans closed the gap on the top two by beating Miskin Manor. Glamorgan's Ian Thomas went cheaply as the Saints slumped to 114 for eight, with Aled Jones taking four for 65 for Miskin.
But their ninth-wicket pair of Rob Franklin (36 not out) and Phil Makinson (31 not out) added a crucial 69 which took them to a more respectable 183 for eight.
Miskin's batsmen never settled and they were dismissed for 127 in their reply with Franklin taking a fine five for 41 and Phil Owen three for 26.
Now Miskin will have to win at least two of their remaining games against Usk, Newport and Sudbrook to have any chance at all of avoiding the drop. The situation in Division One is much more clear cut.
Sully crushed Radyr to move to within one win of promotion, while secondplaced Chepstow's game at home to third-placed Tondu was called off so they are now firm favourites for a quick return to the top flight.
Ryan Sylvester made 33, Craig Thomas 40 and Dave Eskins 38 as Sully amassed 204 for five at home to Radyr. But the visitors were never in with a chance as Jamie Sylvester took three for 16, Nathan Gage two for 22 and Ryan Sylvester two for 28 to reduce them to 111 all out.
Amazingly, the bottom three sides all won meaning any two of the bottom six could now go down and even fourthplaced Newport Fugitives and fifth side Panteg aren't absolutely safe yet.
Bridgend beat Panteg by 94 runs thanks mainly to a superb second successive century by Grant Humphries (107).
Next best in their total of 184 for six in a reduced 40 overs match was Morgan Evans with 27 not out.
Ian Worrad took three for 43 in 12 overs for Panteg and Geraint Bowers three for 47.
But Bridgend's attack has been good all season and they swept aside Panteg for just 90, Rhys Osborne claiming three for eight in a late spell, Alan Dodd one for 18 in 13 overs, Andrew Owen took three for 21 in 13 overs and Martin Evans two for 32.
Hoovers cracked a massive 299 for four at home to Llanarth with Simon Davies making a magnificent 112, Wayne Davies 55 and emerging youngster Blayne Harris a fine 58. Shakeel took four for 71 for Llanarth.
Up stepped Craig Watkins to take a superb six for 26 when Llanarth batted and they were all out for 165 despite a sparkling 72 by Shakeel. Ponthir beat Newport Fugitives by 52 runs after Phil North (76) and Rob McCulloch (77) opened with a stand of 150.
Arvin Aswani bowled well for his three for 50 which kept the Ponthir total down to 228 for seven.
Aswani then made 45 not out and Dave Adams 44, but the Fugitives were eventually restricted to 176 for five.
In Division Two Barry have been playing really well in recent weeks, but they came a cropper against Cefn Fforest for whom Ian Phillips took six for 17 and Steve Morgan three for 11.
It could have been worse than 82 all out for Barry had opener Damon Leeke not carried his bat for a battling 42 not out, before Tony Birt (41 not out) steered Fforest up to mid-table security with an eight-wicket win.
The mid-table game between Ebbw Vale and Porth & Ton Pentre at Eugene Cross Park went the Rhondda side's way by five wickets.
Paul Evans took four for 50 in the Vale innings of 149 for seven in which Russell Price made 31 and Jamie Nancarrow 30 not out.
Nancarrow took two for 49 and Kevin Crewe two for 41, but Russ Faulkner (37) and Steve Hughes (33) helped to secure victory for the visitors.
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| Title Annotation: | Sport |
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| Publication: | South Wales Echo (Cardiff, Wales) |
| Date: | Aug 12, 2002 |
| Words: | 844 |
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| Next Article: | Rugby Union: Frustrated Jenks has to watch as Ponty lose; Neath 42, Pontypridd 21. |