South East Wales Cricket League Division Three (Second XI) - Monmouth (176-3) beat Ebbw Vale (172 all out) by seven wickets

MONMOUTH Cricket Club’s Second XI kept the pressure on the league leaders at the top of Division Three with what was eventually a comfortable seven-wicket win at home to Ebbw Vale.

Having won the toss, the visitors chose to bat on a hot day with a wicket that looked perfect for batting and raced to 40-0 from seven overs, despite good bowling from 15-year old opener Alfie Robinson (0-17 from four overs) and Tony Brennan (0-20 from three). 

As a result, skipper Rick Parkes decided to make an early change to spin, and was immediately rewarded with the first wicket of the innings by Gaz Hughes (1-35 from six overs), whose full-length delivery confused Ebbw’s opening batsman to hit his own wicket. At the other end, Ian Morgan’s slow left-arm bowling was rewarded with a series of dismissals.  This included a sharp caught-and-bowled to dismiss the Ebbw Vale captain Simon Keane (62), as Morgan concluded his spell with 4-45 from eight overs.  

Thereafter Monmouth continued to have success with the ball as Chris Chalk (1-20 from five) Neil Saunders (2-21 from five) and Steve Gale (1-9 from 2.2) all gained rewards.

Despite a couple of difficult catching chances being missed, Monmouth kept at their task in the field throughout despite the heat, supported by returning wicket-keeper Harry Hughes. There were catches for Brennan, Morgan and a sharp one-handed catch at cover for Chalk, as Ebbw Vale were all out in the 33rd over for 172.

After tea, Monmouth’s reply started smoothly and the opening partnership of Morgan and Gale progressed to 40 without loss in the ninth over. However, the game took a dramatic turn as Gale, Chalk and Grant Pendleton were all dismissed for four runs between them.

With the home side ‘wobbling’ at 51-3, 13-year-old Harry Hughes came to the crease for his first return to the side this season and took the game away from Ebbw Vale with opener Morgan.

During their undefeated 122-run partnership, Hughes finished on 82 not out in a delightful innings which saw the only two sixes of the game as well as 13 fours. At the other end, Morgan accumulated his eighth consecutive half-century for the second XI, finishing on 68 not out.

Hughes hit the winning runs in the 24th over providing Monmouth, sponsored by Bürkert Fluid Control Systems, a valuable seven-wicket win and 19 league points.

Monmouth will hope that their good season continues next week, when they find themselves away at Hopkinstown.