Once Ammanford's final wicket fell on Sunday 11trh August, it became clear that Panteg CC would be taking their place in the Gwalia Welsh Cup Final for the first time, which will be played at the SWALEC Stadium on Sunday 18th August at 1.00pm.
Panteg will face Llandudno CC, no strangers to the Final, but still looking for their first victory at the final hurdle.
Llandudno had disposed of Port Talbot Town CC on August 4th in a match spoilt by heavy rain showers. Port Talbot were bowled out for only 107 in 35.4 overs with opening bowlers Jack Rimmington and Gordon Kerr taking 2-13 and 3-12 respectively. Providing that they stayed ahead of a run rate of 2.7 per over, Llandudno would run out as winners, once 10 overs had been bowled. In the event, they made the most of their advantage and, with a score of 76-4 in 21 overs when the umpires called time, qualified for the final.
The Ammanford/Panteg tie was played on the 11th of August, the original tie at Panteg having been washed out.
This was a tie made difficult for the batsmen by the bowlers - the highest score of the game was Craig Mahoney's 52 for Ammanford, but his effort was not sufficient to overtake Panteg's total of 163 all out in 39.5 overs. For Panteg, the bulk of the runs were scored by the top three, Carwyn James (40), Akhter Balouch (33) and Lloyd Smith (38) and Matthew Roberts with 4-14 in only 6 overs ensured that Panteg would not run away with it in the first innings. Despite Craig Mahoney's 52 and decent support from Alun Evans (30), Ammanford could only make slow progress against the Panteg attack and fell 25 runs short as Christopher Mee came up with the best bowling figures of the whole competition so far to register 7.3-1-17-5.
The final of the competition, which is heavily sponsored by Grwp Gwalia will be played at the SWALEC Stadium on Sunday 18th August - 1.00pm start. Admission to the stadium is free (entry via Gate 5) and the Trophy and other prizes will be presented by Peter Walker, former Glamorgan and England cricketer and the first Director of Cricket for the former Cricket Board of Wales.
