A number of Glamorgan's stars were in action over the weekend across South Wales and further afield as the club cricket season heads towards a final act, with promotion and relegation in the balance.
In Premier Division One, top of the league St Fagan's defeated Neath by 51 runs, as the visitors reached 228 all out from 46.4 overs in response to the Stags to 279/5. Glamorgan all-rounder Ruaidhri Smith reached his first century of the season, top-scoring for the home side with 108 from 95 balls, with 14 fours and 2 sixes. Cricket Wales' Matt Thompson provided support with 89 from 114 balls with 9 fours as the they set Neath a challenging total. 2nd XI and Wales MC keeper Lorenzo Machado recorded a valiant century in reply, hitting 103 from 114, but Neath ultimately fell short to give St Fagan's the advantage in the title race.
Cardiff kept themselves in reaching distance of the top two with an emphatic 144-run victory over mid-table Pontarddulais. Glamorgan spinner Prem Sisodiya smashed 79 from just 60 balls as he launched 11 boundaries, including three maximums, to power Cardiff to 284/5 from their allocated overs. In response 'the Bont' could only make it to 140, with Sisodiya taking 3-30 from his nine overs, including a maiden, as the visitors were bowled out with nearly seven overs left.
Craig Meschede scored a rapid 50 for Bridgend Town as they beat Ammanford by 111 runs out west. Meschede scored exactly 50, facing only 33 balls and hitting 4 fours and 4 sixes as he propelled Bridgend Town to 266/7, before his team-mates dismantled their opposition for 155 to climb above Ammanford in the table and away from the drop zone.
Clydach hosted a high-scoring affair, with the visitors Newport batting first and reaching 295/8 from 50 overs, thanks to Glamorgan Community staff member Michael Clayden's third century of the season (102 from 133, 13 fours and 1 six). Clayden was supported well by young Glamorgan all-rounder Callum Taylor, who followed up his 2nd XI century this week with 79 from 84 balls, smashing 8 fours and 2 sixes. Director of cricket Mark Wallace added 19 before Clydach mounted a valiant chase, falling just 15 runs short as their 280/7 wasn't enough to take home the victory.
Mumbles defeated Port Talbot Town in a close game as the hosts held on by seven runs, with Mumbles reaching 199 all out in 49.4 overs before Port Talbot Town could only make 192/9 from their 50 overs.
Wicket-keeper Tom Cullen helped Potterne beat Bridgwater by eight wickets in the WEPL, as his 79 from 92 anchored a rapid chase which saw his side score at nearly eight an over.
Glamorgan staff member Adrian Shaw featured for Neath 2s against Mumbles 2s as his side lost by just 16 runs. Shaw scored15 runs and, bizarrely for the former Glamorgan wicket-keeper who bowled only one over in his professional career, took 2-28 from his seven overs.