FORMER captain Ben Lander snapped up four wickets in Monmouth Cricket Club‘s emphatic 10-wicket South East Wales 6 home win against Abercynon on Saturday.

Lander bagged 4-21 from eight overs in helping shoot out the visitors for just 74 at the Sports Ground.

Monmouth 1sts’ batters wasted little time in reaching the target, with stand-in skipper Gareth Jones (38 not out) and Matt Jones (23 not out) powering them home.

But they will be expecting a much tougher test this Saturday when they travel to Corntown, near Bridgend, to face Vale 2nds (12.30pm).

Monmouth, sponsored by Bürkert Fluid Control Systems, welcomed back Tej Saran for his first appearance since featuring against Croesyceiliog in Division 1 in June 2021.

Opening the bowling, Saran backed up Lander and bagged 1-31, including two maidens, as Monmouth took control.

While Lander ripped through the Abercynon top-order, spinners Ben Davies (2-6), Aled Jones (1-15) and first-team debutant Monty Clarke (1-1) also picked up wickets skittling the visitors in 21.2 overs.

Wicketkeeper Will Hickmott made a stumping and held a catch, while Matt Jones and Ben Pilot also took catches.

In reply, Gareth Jones and Matt Jones set about their task with relish as Monmouth wrapped up their victory in 14.1 overs.

Meanwhile, teenage leg-spinner Ieuan Jones snapped up three wickets in one over to inspire Monmouth 2nds to a seven-wicket win at Bridgend Town 4ths in Division 12.

Tony Brennan (1-54) also had a day to remember, claiming the wicket of former Wales rugby captain and British and Irish Lions ace Rob Howley, who was playing for Bridgend and made 13 runs.

Bridgend appeared on course for a sizeable total when Jones (3-33 from eight overs) was introduced into the Monmouth attack with the hosts at 95-2 in 17 overs.

However, the Cricket Wales East starlet immediately struck, Jones taking a wicket with his first delivery and then removing two more to transform the game and leave Bridgend shell-shocked at 96-5 after 18 overs.

Sam Brennan (2-28 from eight), skipper Andrew Dobbie (2-20-7) and Sam Uttley (1-33-8) also bowled impressively for Monmouth in limiting Bridgend to 193-9 from their 40 overs, while Sam Uttley and Dobbie also took catches.

Long-serving opener Ian Morgan, in his 34th season for Monmouth, then top scored with 47, while hard-hitting opener Jake Teague (41) and Matt Williams (35) also made vital contributions to put Monmouth in the driving seat.

Skipper Dobbie (28 not out) and Barry Jones (14 not out) then shared an unbroken fourth-wicket stand to guide Monmouth to the target in the 36th over.

There was disappointment for Monmouth 3rds though as their Division 15 home fixture was conceded by Radyr 6ths who could not raise a team.

But the week saw Monmouth open their Forest Hundred League account with a five-wicket Wednesday night home triumph against Ruardean Hill with 35 balls to spare.

Stand-in skipper Peter Keay shone with the ball, taking 3-16, and was well supported by Aled Jones and Lander in restricting the visitors to 103-6 from 100 balls.

In reply, Harry Hughes top scored with 34 and Lander made 19 to seal Monmouth’s win, with Aston Ingham the visitors at the Sports Ground tonight (Wednesday, May 13, 6pm start).

Other games on Saturday are Monmouth 2nds v Chepstow 3rds, Caerydd Barbarians v Monmouth 3rds.