Leading pair gear up for title shootout

NEWPORT and St Fagans look ready to fight it out in the battle for the South Wales Premier Cricket League trophy.

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They both claimed hugely impressive victories at the weekend to pull clear of their rivals at the top of the table.

Leaders Newport won by eight wickets at Ynystawe in a game that lasted fewer than 40 overs.

The Swansea Valley side were put into bat and were all out for just 54, with Thomas Morgan (18) the only player in double figures. Mujeid Ilyas took 3-3 and Salman Saeed 3-13.

Newport took just 12.2 overs to reach their target.

St Fagans, meanwhile, routed visitors Pontarddulais by 218 runs.

Jeremy Lawlor was the star of the show for the Stags, blasting a superb 158 off just 131 deliveries. His innings featured 11 boundaries and 10 sixes.

He was given excellent support by opener Steven Reingold (77) and skipper Owen Morgan (42).

Bont were then dismissed for just 86, with Ollie Sherwood returning the figures of 5-22. Oliver Rogers scored almost half of Pontarddulais’ runs with an unbeaten 42.

Usk’s on-song batters scored 426 runs last week and topped the 300-mark on Saturday - but on this occasion it wasn’t enough as they lost by three wickets at Ammanford.

Tamoor Zafar scored a blistering 92 for Usk in their total of 300-7. His runs came off just 69 balls. Ollie Rayner (61) and Billy Root (40) provided support.