SWCA 2nd XI SAT. JUNE 2 2012
PONTARDAWE V MAESTEG CELTIC
On an overcast afternoon, Celtic won the toss and invited Ponty to take first knock. Ponty made good use of the wicket and declared after 46 overs having reached 256 for 6. The highlight of the batting was undoubtedly a fine century by Nik Joshi, who in an innings lasting nearly 2 hours scored 114 (6 sixes and 8 fours). Good support came from Arwel Rees who followed up his 50 last week with 41 (5 fours). Steve Jones breezed in with an unbeaten 26 (2 sixes and 2 fours)and at the top of the order Ryan Herbert compiled a patient 20.
For Celtic, Jason Cook stood out with 4 for 44 from 15 unchanged overs. Lewis Jenkins took 2 for 19 late on, whilst the rest of the bowling was mostly put to the sword. At tea, no one could recall when Pontardawe 2nd XI had last declared their innings.
Celtic made a good start to their reply and an opening stand of 55 was put together in 17 overs between Aled Jones with 33 and Jason Arnold who batted for 2 hours to score 23. Lewis Jenkins got 29 (5 fours) in just 36 minutes.
For Ponty, Jeff Hapgood was the pick of the bowling with 4 for 22 off 9.2 overs while it was that man Joshi again, who bowling unchanged took 3 for 59 off 15 overs to ensure he took "man of the match!"
Celtic capitulated for 149 in 48.2 of a possible 54 overs to give Ponty a win by 107 runs and a maximum points haul of 28 to take them comfortably off the foot of the table.
