THERE was a very early finish at Skewen in division two of the South Wales Association where the hosts and leaders beat near neighbours Briton Ferry Steel by two runs in a real thriller.
Skewen batted first and were skittled out for just 56 in 23 overs as six of their batsmen had ducks.
Chris Keen top-scored with 17 as Steve Devonald was again in the wickets with 5-25, and Paul Evans took 5-31.
But third-placed Steel themselves then collapsed to 54 all out after 20.4 overs, No. 9 batsman Lloyd Clement the only man in double figures with 10 as David Thomas took 8-21 and Jamie Lewis 2-29.
In the basement battle at Morriston, Pontardawe and the hosts both came close to chalking up their first win of the season before it ended in a draw, a result that leaves Morriston 13 points clear of bottom side Ponty.
The visitors made 177-5 thanks to Oli Furneaux (58), Craig Richards (49no) and a late blast from skipper Rhodri Davies, whose 34 not out came from just 13 balls and contained four sixes. Stuart Johnson took 2-29.
Morriston were in trouble at 31-3, but a 112-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Sam Richards (52) and Steve Maddock (49) gave them a chance of victory before they settled for a draw on 170-8. Craig Richards took 3-44 and Nik Joshi 3-50.
Fourth-placed Bronwydd lost at home to second-placed Aberdare by 57 runs.
Mike Roberts (59) and Steve Manning (41) guided Aberdare to 161-8, Gihan Fernando taking 4-26 and Steven Williams 3-56.
Bronwydd's reply was instantly in trouble as the first six batsmen managed only eight runs between them. They were facing a rout at 37-9 but Kevin Morgan (29) and Colin Tucker (29no) carried them to a face-saving 104 all out in 39 overs.
Geoff Derrick (10-6-11-4) and Luke Garthwaite (3-25) did the damage.
Gorseinon (159) won by 40 runs at Llandysul (119), and Swansea Civil Service (155) won by the same margin at Llanelli.
Damian Devonald (46) and Steve Porter (37) top-scored for Civil Service as Iwan Rees took 5-43, Lewis Jones 3-21 and Vaughan Thomas 2-24 before Llanelli were skittled out for 115.