South East Wales Cricket League Division One - Pontypridd (179 all out) lost to Chepstow (225-8) by 46 runs

CHEPSTOW CC’s First XI kicked on from the Welsh Cup victory over Newport to leap three places to sixth thanks to a 46-run success at Pontypridd.

After the home side won the toss and decided to bat second, they appeared firmly in the driving seat after dismissing Chepstow’s openers for 15 runs apiece and then taking the next two wickets without troubling the scorers.

But skipper Jason Dobbie (58) and Tyler Morgan-Huggett (36) rallied the troops and useful contributions of 33 not out from Tudor Morgan-Huggett and 37 from Ricky Sahabdeen saw the visitors post a total of 225 and earn five batting points.

In reply, Ponty were progressing well until Dobbie trapped Gregor McKain lbw for 23 and Mitchell Harris had Alex Kennedy caught by Dave Bennett on 36.

Dobbie then had Rhys Lacey lbw for one run and Harris had Ali Saeed caught by Jon Roberts for the same score.

Despite a stubborn 65 by Tim Foden, he was trapped leg before wicket by Tudor Morgan-Huggett who then clean-bowled Rowan Thomas (20) to end Ponty’s resistance before Malith Madur-asinghe mopped up the tail. The home side were eventually bowled out for 179 in the 48th over, Chepstow winning by 46 runs.

Dobbie took the bowling honours with 2-17 and four maidens in his 10 overs while Harris ended with figures of 3-39-0-10.

Tudor Morgan-Huggett weighed in with 2-41 and Madurasinghe’s 2-43 clinched a confidence-boosting victory.

“It was a superb counterattack ninth wicket partnership of 67 between Tudor and Ricky that took us to a respectable total, so real credit to them,” Madurasinghe said later.

“The scorecard may suggest a comfortable win, which it was in the end but our batting wobbled until Jason and Tyler steadied the ship.

“We bowled and fielded well as a unit, the introduction of spin turned the game in our favour. It was a much-needed win for us and a good weekend for the club with all three sides winning.”

Chepstow entertain Croesyceiliog on Friday (9th June) in the Macey Cup (6pm start) and Usk on Saturday (12.30pm start).