It was a decisive final weekend of club cricket in South Wales, as the Men's Welsh Cup final saw Pontarddualais CC beat Usk CC to win the title, and The Panthers CC sealing the South Wales Women's Cricket League Premier Division. Bangor CC win their penultimate match to be favourites to win the North Wales Premier League next week.
The Men's Welsh Cup final on Sunday at Usk CC had Pontarddulais CC batting first, and after a shaky start, the south-west Walian club managed to get 195 runs on the board, thanks to 75-run innings from Carl Roberts in the top-order, and a quick cameo down the order from Sam Jardine who hit a 25-ball 40. In reply, Usk CC were blown away by the Pontarddulais CC new-ball bowlers Canniston Gunaratnam and Dafydd Davies. Gunaratnam, who has represented Sri Lanka U19s and is a student at the University of South Wales, ended up with 4 wickets in a stunning 7-over spell giving away only 12 runs. Dafydd Davies picked up two wickets in his 8-over new-ball spell, as Pontarddulais CC won the Welsh Cup final by 87 runs,
In the women's South Wales Cricket League Premier Division, The Panthers won the only to not be washed out due to rain, confirming their status as champions of the league. Glamorgan's Megan Janczewski's knock of 61, well supported by Glamorgan's Isla Thomson, gave The Panthers CC a big 94-run over Cardiff CC.
Up in the North Wales Premier League, Bangor CC recorded another big win, beating Gwersyllt Park CC by 8 wickets, to inch closer to the league title with one game to go and a 10-point lead over Brymbo CC, who also won their penultimate game to have a fighting chance. Mochdre CC's Will Evans top-scored in the round with 161 runs top his name, as his teammate Marcus Mangiameli got an unbeaten ton to give them a 36-run win over Conwy CC. St. Asaph CC's Duncan Midgley scored 111 to guide his team to victory over Denbigh CC, for whom Harrison Jones top-scored with an unbeaten 103 albeit in a losing cause.
Scores & summary from last weekend's premier club cricket:
North Wales Men’s Premier League
Bangor CC 123/2 (N Scott 38*, C Williams 36) beat Gwersyllt Park CC 119 (K Stoute 62; S Parekh 4/23) by 8 wickets.
Brymbo CC 137/3 (J Barnard 62*) beat Menai Bridge CC 132 (J Claybrook 3/14) by 7 wickets.
Mochdre CC 289/2 (W Evans 161, M Mangiameli 100*) beat Conwy CC 253 (E Williams 63, J Davies 59, O da Costa 42, P Jelley 39*; A Campion 3/18, M Mangiameli 3/54) by 36 runs.
Northop CC 124/2 (M Williams 47*, J Evans 46*) beat Bethesda CC 123 (T Hughes 4/22) by 8 wickets.
St Asaph CC 245/5 (D Midgley 111, M Ryan 41, K Williams 33) beat Denbigh CC 242/5 (H Jones 103*, S Lewis 51, M van Voorst 39) by 5 wickets.
South Wales Women’s Premier League
The Panthers CC 194/9 (M Janczewski 61, I Thomson 30; I Marin-Curtoud 4/28) beat Cardiff CC 100 (R Elias 51; E Closs-Sharp 3/5, I Smart 3/16) by 94 runs.
Men’s Welsh Cup Final
Pontarddulais CC 195/7 (C Roberts 75, S Jardine 40) beat Usk CC 108 (C Gunaratnam 4/12, J Arrowsmith 3/29) by 87 runs.