South East Wales Cricket League Division One (Second XI) - Pentyrch CC (140 all out) lost to Chepstow CC (333-2) by 193 runs

CHEPSTOW Cricket Club’s seconds maintained their title bid in style on Saturday when they thrashed hosts Pentyrch by 193 runs.

But the victory was more notable for the contributions made by Jamie Rayner who carried his bat while making 154 and Ollie Thornhill (136).

Rayner has had an indifferent time in the club’s first team this season but he seemed to have rediscovered his mojo at Pentyrch hitting the boundary rope 20 times and clearing it twice.

“It was great to join the Second XI on Saturday and to be part of such a comprehensive win,” Rayner said later. 

“Batting is about partnerships and that is exactly what Ollie Thornhill and I had. It’s not often you have a partnership of 250 plus. 

“Setting a total of 333 was clearly going to be challenging for Pentyrch and our bowlers finished the job very well with some great attitude and contribution from the younger members of the team.

“Hopefully, learning how to win in the right way will encourage our youngsters to make it habitual!”

Thornhill struck 16 boundaries and three maximums in his innings.

“It was very hot in the middle and the wicket was difficult at the start but eased off half way through our innings,” he said.

Seconds skipper Jon Huws praised both batsmen for the way they performed.

“It was a superb 263-run partnership for the second wicket which set us up for the win,” Huws said.

“Ollie in particular played some fantastic shots while Jamie showed his class at this level.

“Our total of 333-2 was always going to be a challenge for Pentyrch and they had to go for their shots from the start.

“Tudor Morgan-Huggett was the pick of our bowlers with an excellent spell, picking up four wickets for 23 runs and Cam Rees took 3-36 in a comfortable win.

“Jamie was dropped when he was on 40-odd but it was only a very tough half-chance and Ollie played some very expansive shots later in his innings and was dropped twice when he had got past 50.

“In two big scores like that there are always going to be half-chances but overall two absolutely superb innings from the pair of them.”