South East Wales Cricket League Division One (First XI) - Chepstow CC (217 all out) beat Pentyrch CC (121 all out) by 96 runs

TWO local clubs are putting pressure on league leaders Newbridge after Chepstow firsts saw off visitors Pentyrch at the weekend.

But while second-placed Sudbrook suffered a home defeat by Malpas, a Chepstow team brimming with confidence, moved up to third.

In what was later described as a crucial game to win, the visitors won the toss but decided to field.

They may have been regretting that decision 50 overs later after the home side posted a target of 217 all out.

Carwyn James and Gareth Ansell opened for Chepstow, sharing in an 82-run stand before James departed having made 55.

Although Ansell lost his next four partners to Pentyrch bowler Jamie Mills (4-37) the scorers were kept busy.

The visitors’ bowlers were also kept guessing as Ansell employed reverse sweeps and ramp shots in a varied innings of 77 that included nine boundaries.

By the time he departed, he had been joined at the crease by Malith Madurasinghe who was also in a scoring mood, his 37-run contribution eliciting shouts of approval from the terrace and the last two batsmen, debutant Lewys Jones and Rizan Mansoor scored the runs to take the total over 200.

Chepstow struck swiftly and deeply to leave Pentyrch tottering on 30-4 thanks to Luke Watson (three) and Rizan Mansoor (one) and although Brett Hole offered resistance he was caught and bowled by Mitchell Harris on 41.

Skipper Jason Dobbie snapped up four wickets at a cost of just 28 runs and Harris added a second caught and bowled to take the final wicket with the visitors 96 runs short.

“We were surprised to be asked to bat having lost the toss to a team one place below us in the table at the time,” Madurasinghe said later.

“The conditions were good for batting and we made a solid start with both openers scoring half centuries.

“Some lower order partnerships took our total to a respectable total and in reply, our bowling unit clicked with Luke Watson (3-43) and Rizan Mansoor (1-19) taking early wickets.

“The introduction of spin turned the game in our favour and I was chuffed to see Lewys Jones make his first team debut six days short of his 17th birthday.

“He bowled superbly on debut and was unlucky not to take a wicket.

“It was another excellent win for the boys and another good weekend for the club with all three teams winning for the third week on the bounce.”