ZAID Khan hit a superb unbeaten half-century as Aberystwyth Firsts got their new season in the West Wales Cricket Club Conference off to a thrilling winning start at Aberaeron with a successful reply of 245 for 7.

Aberaeron elected to bat on a fine, but brisk day at the seaside ground. John Fice (22) and Alex Pitchford (42) made steady progress, until the partnership was broken on 75 when Rowan Dunbabin (1 for 46) had Fice stumped.

New Zealander Chris Strange joined Pitchford in the middle, until shortly after a fine delivery from Sion Lathwood (1 for 58) bowled Pitchford, bringing Aberaeron captain Hywel Rees into the game.

Strange and Rees dominated the bowling and took the score onto 170, before Graham Bird caught out Rees (41) from the bowling of talented youngster Khan.

Jon Evans then joined Strange and scoring continued at a pace until Strange also fell to the bowling of Khan (2 for 54), with this time Mel Jones taking the catch. It was another imperious innings from Strange, scoring 6 sixes and 4 fours, with damage all round the ground, in his 79.

Steffan Rees came in and he and Evans kept up the scoring until Lathwood caught Rees (11) off the bowling of Nat Burrell (1 for 4) and A Shaw ran out Evans (31). The home innings closed with Aberaeron setting a challenging 245 to win, which was for the loss of 6 wickets.

Mel Jones (4) was an early wicket for Aberaeron, reward for some fine bowling from Hywel Rees (2 for 41 from 9 overs).

Andi Price was playing solidly though, and progressing the score well. Shaw (23) however was trapped lbw by Jon Evans (1 for 75) and shortly after Steffan Rees (1 for 46) took the big wicket of Sion Lathwood with the score on 106.

Harry Edwards joined opener Price and they kept Aberystwyth on track until Price (37) was deceived and bowled by a slower ball from Paul Hughes (1 for 51)

Aberaeron were looking favourites with the score on 132-5, and Nat Burrell batted well for his 25, until he was caught at extra cover by Hughes - but enter Zaid Khan.

He and Edwards kept up with the required rate with powerful straight hitting, until Strange caught Edwards (40) on the long on boundary, and the game again seemed to swing in the hosts’ favour.

New batsman David Dowell and Khan kept pressing on, and Khan hit some enormous sixes to put Aber in contention.

A couple of blank overs, however, left the visitors requiring 35 from 3 overs - a big ask. However, the 38th over proved to be fruitful with 17 runs flowing from it.

The game came to crescendo when Steffan Rees ran out Australian Dowell with two balls remaining, and 4 runs needed.

Rowan Dunbabin held his nerve to hit his first for 4, and sealed a terrific win.

The undisputed man-of the match was Zaid Khan, who finished on 57no. Best bowling was Hywel Rees with 2-41 off 9.

• Fresh from a superb eight wicket win against Gowerton in the First Round of the Welsh Cup a week earlier, there was more of the same from Llanwrda, who registered an eight wicket win at Talybont with a successful reply of 222 for 5.

The home side had closed on a challenging total of 220 for 9, with Sojan (67) and Anish (31) topping the batting charts for the hosts, against the bowling of Adrian Davies (3 for 32) and Sion Nicholas (2-28).

In reply, Adrian Davies (95) was denied a deserved century when playing the ball on to his stumps, but the victory was eventually assured thanks to Tom Thurtle (40) and Sion Nicholas (21 not out).