ON another rain-affected weekend Penarth’s cricketers grabbed a tie from the jaws of defeat in a dramatic Premier League tie against Gorseinon.

Torrential rain meant a delayed start and reduction to 35 overs per side and Gorseinon took the easy decision to insert Penarth in tricky early conditions.

After Penarth had weathered the immediate difficulties the decision paid dividends with the introduction of Abbas Ashraf to the attack.

The bowler claimed 4 for 9 and along with Kieran O’Connor reduced Penarth to 52 for 7 and seemingly heading for a heavy defeat.

That Penarth didn’t subside was largely due to 18-year-old Steffan Crimp who counter-attacked superbly and along with Llyr Morris added 65 for the 8th wicket to haul their team back into the contest.

Morris eventually fell to Rhys Barlow but Crimp continued to a superb 73 off just 47 balls until he was eventually run-out with the score at 143, the tenth wicket falling soon after on the same score.

Nathan Piddock bagged the wickets of both openers as Penarth started well in the field before Richard Skone claimed two of his own as Gorseinon slipped to 65 for 4.

Kieran Howells was on the attack for Gorseinon and had made a lively 48 before the introduction of Will Skone brought his downfall and put Penarth in the driving seat at 77 for 5.

The hosts weren’t on top for long though as O’Connor and Greg Fisher built a seemingly match-winning partnership which was worth 52 before Crimp executed the run-out of O’Connor for 22 to give Penarth a glimmer of hope.

That feeling didn’t last long as Gorseinon moved within seven runs of their target before Crimp struck to removed Chris Mee LBW for the seventh wicket.

Two runs later Fisher was crucially run-out for 32 and from the very next ball Will Skone struck to leave Gorseinon teetering on 139 for 9 and needing five to win.

Crimp had the ball in hand but watched Ashraf find the boundary from the first ball of the 33rd over to tie the scores.

There was to be one final twist though as Crimp’s next ball was cut hard to point where Greg Cross stretched high and completed the catch to confirm the tie.

The second team travelled to Chepstow and were denied a likely victory by a third heavy downpour which caused the game to be abandoned with the hosts at 88 for 8 after Rhys McGowan, Tom Pascoe, Rhys Mottram and Isaac Foster had shared the wickets in an excellent bowling display.

Both third and fourth team fixtures fell victim to morning rain which meant that the only other weekend action was a depleted first team’s Welsh Cup tie versus St Fagans on Sunday.

The reigning South Wales Premier League champions showed their class as Owen Morgan (77) and Owain Hopkins (44) led their team to an imposing 211 for 5 with Will Skone and Mark Thomas the pick of the Penarth bowlers.

Penarth’s reply never really threatened the target despite an excellent 57 from Skone and 26 for Nithin Mathias but as the required rate climbed a flurry of late wickets reduced Penarth to 147 all out and confirmed St Fagans place in the semi-finals.

Saturday fixtures: 1st v Ynysygerwn (H), 2nd v Bridgend (A), 3rd v Dinas Powys (H), 4th x Tredegar (A).

The club would like to extend its thanks to sponsors David Baker and Co, Curo, Churngold and Quilter Financial Advisers for their continued support.