HARD-HITTING Ben Davies hammered a sparkling 190 as promotion-chasing Monmouth 1st XI set a new club record 417-3 in a 165-run home win against Penarth 3rds on Saturday.

Davies blasted 28 fours and six sixes in a whirlwind innings off 101 balls, and was supported by fellow centurion Ben Pilot (104 from 87 balls) after Penarth won the toss in the South East Wales 6 clash, and chose to field on a scorching Sports Ground afternoon.

Century-makers Davies and Pilot, who began their cricket with Monmouth at U11s level, shared a pulsating 298-run second-wicket stand in just under 29 overs.

The duo were responsible for powering the town to beyond 400 for the first time in its history, eclipsing the club’s previous highest total of 386-5 against Creigiau in 2022.

Davies, who reached his hundred in just 57 deliveries, fell just 12 runs short of Monmouth’s highest individual league score of 202 set by Josh Grey against Machen in 2015.

Davies, who has hit two centuries in the last three matches, now sits behind Grey in the club’s record books after climbing above Fraser Kilgour, who made 167 against Kidderminster in 2011.

However, Monmouth, sponsored by Bürkert Fluid Control Systems, remain fourth in the table – three points shy of second-placed Vale 2nds with just two matches remaining.

Penarth’s decision to bowl first backfired for the visitors, having thrashed Monmouth by 10 wickets at home earlier this season.

Davies and Osian Jones (41 from 24 balls) gave Monmouth a blistering start, soaring to 60-1 in 5.5 overs before Davies and Pilot pummelled the bewildered Penarth attack, and the hosts raced to 200 in just 20 overs and then 300 in 29.1 overs.

Ben Lander (37 not out) and Tej Saran (17 not out) also weighed in to propel Monmouth to their mammoth total.

After the interval, Pilot (2-36), skipper Peter Keay (1-29), Harry Desroy (1-47) and Davies (1-48), helped reduce a shell-shocked Penarth to 116-5 in the 19th over.

To their credit, Dipesh Purohit (31) and Conard Adams (28) chipped in before Rob Weston showed tremendous fight, cracking 84 off 58 balls.

Weston was backed by Daniel Thacker (33 not out), and Hekmatullah Mohammadi (23 not out), to lift eighth-placed Penarth to a respectable 252-6 from their 40 overs.

Monmouth wicketkeeper William Wilton claimed three dismissals, two catches and a stumping, while Keay secured a run-out alongside some impressive fielding from Paul Brooks, Eddie Atkinson and Matthew Williams.

Keay’s side picked up 18 points from their emphatic win and travel to Blackweir Fields in Cardiff for a vital fixture against fifth-placed Bay Dragons this Saturday (12.30pm).

Meanwhile, a century from all-rounder Gareth Jones inspired Monmouth 2nds to a 62-run win away to bottom side Llanarth 2nds in a high-scoring SEW 12 derby.

Player-of-the-match Jones smashed 138 from 115 deliveries, while opener Ian Morgan carried his bat for an unbeaten 84 as Monmouth piled up 294-2 from 40 overs.

Second-wicket pair Jones and Morgan added 210 runs in 32 overs after Jake Teague’s quick-fire 28 on an excellent pitch with a lightning-fast outfield.

Jones reached his eighth century – and his third for Monmouth – in just 75 balls, firing 21 fours and a six and notching the fourth highest score by a Monmouth 2nds player in the modern era ,with Graham Hyde’s 166 not out at Builth Wells in 2005 top.

Skipper Andrew Dobbie weighed in with 14 not out from six deliveries near the close, while Isaac Hinchlifee (1-34) and Archie Greenslade (1-63) took wickets for Llanarth and home skipper Andrew Hilditch (0-36) delivered eight tight overs.

Llanarth opener Gerry Stentiford, a former Monmouth School teacher, then hit a classy 54 and Greenslade stroked eight boundaries in his 50 as the hosts battled to 232-6.

Ieuan Jones (2-40) was Monmouth’s most successful bowler, while his father, Gareth Jones (1-13 from six overs), Aled Jones (1-21 from six), Monty Clarke (1-28 from five) and Jake Teague (1-17) each picked up wickets.

Mark Batt (29 not out), Hilditch (22) and Nick White (19) all made contributions for Llanarth, while Charlie Mallen, Will Hickmott, Aled Jones, Clarke took sharp catches for Monmouth and Dobbie made a smart stumping.

The win leaves Monmouth three from bottom with promotion-chasing Monkswood & Panteg Thirds the visitors this Saturday (12.30pm).

Thirds duo fire centuries – Page ??