South East Wales Cricket League Division One - Chepstow 1st XI (249-7) beat Sudbrook 1st XI (248-9) by one run

CHEPSTOW CC claimed the bragging rights with the narrowest of victories on Saturday but it was their least successful batsman who contributed the vital run.

Opener Malith Madurasinghe had scored that run when he was caught by Sudbrook wicketkeeper Brad Bates, to become bowler Jon Lewis’ sole success.

But the early setback brought Tyler Morgan-Huggett to the middle and he and David Teague set about Sudbrook’s attack to take the score to 150-1.

The pair shared the work, keeping pace until Morgan-Huggett departed, caught by Mark O’Leary off Mickey Martin’s bowling for an excellent 71 runs, including 10 boundaries and a towering six which cleared the fence surrounding the tennis courts,

Oliver Thornton joined the fray, scoring three boundaries in his 15 runs before O’Leary held another catch off Scott O’Leary.

Teague continued but lost Ben Jones (20) as Scott O’Leary claimed his second wicket before ending Teague’s bid for a ton with a caught-and-bowled effort, Teague ending seven runs short, O’Leary finishing with 3-46 from his 10 overs.

Jamie Rayner and Tuhin Gavand returned to the pavilion with single-figure totals but Jon Roberts (11 not out) and Jason Dobbie (0 not out) offered resistance to see the home side to 249-7.

In reply, Sudbrook lost Ross Lewis for 23, bowled by Paul Swingwood but, like their opponents, the visitors rallied when Matt Kinchin joined skipper Michael Martin at the crease.

Both contributed half centuries but neither was able to progress to a three-figure score and put pressure on the home side. Kinchin departed for 55, bowled Dobbie, and Martin out for 54 after being caught by Madurasinghe who then caught and bowled Bates (14).

After losing Jamie Watkins and Matt Spencer for single-figure scores, Scott and Mark O’Leary helped Sudbrook to reach 198 but Tudor Morgan-Huggett caught and bowled Mark (eight) leaving Scott on 18 not out.

A spirited effort by Jon Lewis (20) and Ben Supple (10 not out), left Sudbrook needing to score four from the last over but Swingwood bowled well to deny them.

Chepstow captain Jason Dobbie was delighted by his team’s workrate.

“It was great to get a win over Sudbrook with four first team players missing,” he said later.

“The win was set up by an excellent partnership between Dave Teague and Tyler and we picked up wickets at vital times with some excellent catching and fielding.

“Sudbrook got a little closer than we wanted in the final over but Paul held his nerve.”

His opposite number, Mickey Martin agreed it was a tough day but also blamed himself.

“We didn’t deserve to win after bowling so poorly in the first half of the match and didn’t learn lessons from the Usk match mainly down to myself batting so slowly,” he admitted.

“But we dust ourselves off for next week. Scott O’Leary was good with bat and ball again proving to be a very talented young cricketer and an important member of our team.

“I know the boys are gutted at losing by one run, it’s just small margins at the moment.

“It went our way at Blackwood and hasn’t gone our way in the last two matches but we have been competitive and we are still not playing our best cricket.”