MONMOUTH 1st XI kept up their promotion challenge with a thrilling three-wicket victory away to Panteg 2nds in South East Wales 6 on Saturday.

A vital seventh-wicket stand between birthday boy Ben Pilot (56) and late call-up David Teague (24 not out) steered them to a vital win with 13 balls remaining.

The triumph was Monmouth’s fifth from nine matches and lifts Peter Keay’s side above Panteg to second at the half-way point.

And next up are leaders TAW, in a top-of-the-table clash at Cardiff’s Pontcanna Fields, this Saturday (12.30pm, July 4).

Spinner Ben Davies (3-46 from eight overs) was Monmouth’s most successful bowler as they fought back to restrict Panteg to 226-7 from 40 overs.

Richard Jefferies (40), Jacob Richards (37) and Adam Harding (34) gave Panteg a strong opening after choosing to bat first in sweltering conditions.

But Davies, Eddie Atkinson (2-39-8), Pilot (1-41-8) and Adam Roberts (1-43) picked up wickets for Monmouth.

A late flurry from skipper Deon Smith (44) took Panteg to a challenging total as Atkinson and Tej Saran held catches, with Barry Jones, Jake Teague and wicketkeeper Will Hickmott all excelling for the visitors.

In reply, Adam Roberts’ quick-fire 42, containing seven fours and a six, 38 from Saran and 15 from Davies put the visitors in a good position.

However, wickets also tumbled, and the outcome looked uncertain when Teague, who stepped in to play after a player withdrew through illness, joined Pilot at the crease at 155-6 in the 27th over.

Pilot’s half-century and Teague’s assured knock combined for a match-winning 69-run seventh-wicket stand as Monmouth finally sealed victory in 37.5 overs.

Meanwhile, a superb all-round performance from Gareth Jones, who belted a 29-ball half-century and Tony Brennan’s career-best 31 not out inspired Monmouth 2nds to a deserved 37-run win against Lisvane 4ths at the Sports Ground in SEW 12.

An entertaining last-wicket stand of 37 between Brennan and Sam Uttley (20) and teenager Charlie Mallen’s 3-37 also proved crucial as Andrew Dobbie’s side recorded their third league win to sit seventh at the midway stage.

After a solid start from Matthew Williams (37) and Ian Morgan (10), the quick-scoring Jones (56) hit top gear as Monmouth raced to 132-1.

However, a remarkable spell from Lisvane’s Karthik Subramanyam (5-28) then reduced the hosts to 149-7.

But despite 3-42 from former Lisvane first-teamer Justin Rowles, the last-wicket partnership between Brennan and Uttley propelled Monmouth to 227 all out in 37.3 overs.

Gareth Jones (3-24-8) then picked up crucial early wickets before bagging a run-out with a venomous direct hit from the deep as Lisvane slipped to 60-4.

Captain Dunstan Marcel (57), Shafiq Hassan (31) and Hafiz Haseeb (24) gave Lisvane hope but fine spells from Charlie Mallen, Sam Uttley (2-48) and spinner Ieuan Jones (1-13 from three overs) kept Monmouth in the driving seat.

Uttley held a stunning catch above his head at mid-off, while Paul Mallen (2), Dobbie and Morgan also took catches, with Monty Clarke and Neil Saunders sharp in the field, as Lisvane were shot out for 190 in 36.3 overs.

Vice-captain Saunders will be leading the 2nds against Newport Fugitives 3rds at the Sports Ground this Saturday (12.30pm).

Meanwhile, Monmouth 3rds went down by 156 runs to Barry Wanderers 2nds in SEW 15, dismissed for 87 after the hosts posted 243-8.

They entertain Abercarn 2nds at Chippenham Fields on Saturday (12.30pm).

Elsewhere, Monmouth’s midweek team travel to Pelham Fields to face neighbouring Penallt & Redbrook (Wednesday, July 1, 6pm), with both aiming to secure their place in the knockout semi-final stages of the Forest Hundred League.

Rhydian James’ swashbuckling unbeaten 44 from just 20 balls was the bright spot in table-topping Monmouth’s eight-wicket loss at Lydney last week.

James blasted five sixes and one four as Monmouth recovered from 9-3 in the scorching conditions to post 120-6.

Andrew Dobbie (16) and Akash Santosh (10) reached double figures, while Lydney’s Jack O’Connell took 3-11.

But despite a wicket each from Akash (1-9) and William Wilton (1-16), Lydney’s outstanding Australian recruit Ben Ferguson cracked 60 from 25 balls and Jack O’Connell made 41 as the hosts inflicted Monmouth’s second midweek defeat of the term.

Monmouth women’s team training takes place tonight (Wednesday) at the Sports Ground from 6.30pm ahead of their South Wales Women’s Division One hardball trip to Lisvane to face Sapphires on Sunday (July 5, noon).

And senior players’ training continues tomorrow (Thursday) from 5.30pm-7.30pm.

To get involved in Monmouth CC, contact chairman Mike Maguire on [email protected] or for women's and girls' cricket, email [email protected]