Talybont 300-7 Luctonians 113 all out
TALYBONT consolidated their position at the top of the league with a convincing 187 run victory over bottom of the table Luctonians 3rds.
Asked to bat first, captain Dan Bowen and Martin Hurst, who was promoted to opener, started well before Bowen was bowled for 14 with the score on 37.
Richard James was next to go unfortunately playing on for nine before Hurst, who was looking set for another big score, before he was dismissed for only the second time this season LBW for 34.
Another Bont player promoted up the order, Guy Williams was now the key to the innings as he raced to his 50 in no time despite seeing Colin Olivant caught behind for one.
Williams was then joined by Huw Griffiths who wasted little time in getting to 27 before he also played on off his pads and after 30 overs Bont were well placed on 174 for 5.
Richard Davies also went soon after LBW for nought as Lucs fought to keep Bont in the 200 region.
Unfortunately for them they found Williams in supreme form as he and Carl Lewis produced a destructive partnership of 86 in just eight overs with Lewis blazing four boundaries and four sixes.
This innings saw him strike the first three balls of one over for maximums as he looked set for a Gary Sobers moment before agonisingly missing out on the fourth delivery.
When Lewis departed caught for 45 it was left to man of the match Williams to bring up his maiden century in the final over of the innings. His tremendous knock of 108 not out which included 16 boundaries and four sixes propelled Bont to a commanding 300 for 7 from their 40 overs.
Bont then struck an early blow with the ball as Huw Griffiths (10 overs 1 for 30) bowled Hargreaves for nought as they looked to make inroads into the Lucs top order. Griffiths’ new ball partner Lewis Deacon continued his superb form with the ball as clean bowled four victims.
He claimed the wicket of the dangerous Tom Williams who fought a one man battle against the Bont attack before he was caught by Richard James for a fine 76 including 14 boundaries and one maximum.
Deacons spell ended with 5 for 51 as he claimed a five wicket haul for the second week running. After Williams’ departure Lucs offered some resistance as Carl Lewis picked up 3 for 5 off his 6 overs which included a sharp stumping by Dan Bowen and another Richard James catch.
With Lucs on 109 for 9 the final pair dug in to frustrate Bont for numerous overs of stubborn defence before Guy Williams (1 for 0) completed his fine day by clean bowling the Lucs number 11 as Bont bowled them out for 113 and claimed the 25 points.
This Saturday sees the leaders home against one of their promotion rivals fourth placed Herefordians with a 1.30pm start.