CRICKET was the winner as league leaders made the trip to third-placed Crumlin, for a crunch match at the top end of Division 2 of the South East Wales Cricket League. Both teams proceeded to serve up an exciting spectacle in glorious sunshine for the large crowd of local supporters, with the match eventually being won by the hosts on the penultimate ball of the game, inflicting a second defeat of the season on table-toppers Monmouth.
Monmouth, sponsored by Burkert Fluid Control Systems, were asked to bat first on a peach of a wicket and openers Matt Jones (35) and David Teague (87) made a watchful start, reaching only 16 off the first eight overs, with Teague surviving an early scare when spooning an easy chance to mid-wicket before scoring.
The run rate accelerated however, forcing a bowling change which paid immediate dividends, when the opening 71-run partnership was broken by Simon Veall (4-26 in nine overs), bowling Jones with only his second delivery. When captain Adam Roberts (8) fell not long after, Henry Breeze (63) joined Teague and they put on 122 for the third wicket in 18 overs, with Breeze reaching his 50 off only 43 balls.
Crumlin used a total of eight bowlers in an effort to make further breakthroughs and when Breeze holed out in the 38th over, the game changed on its head, with a clatter of wickets seeing Monmouth crumble from 214-2, losing eight wickets for a paltry 35 runs, with the innings folding at 249 all out in the 48th over.
Monmouth’s seemingly serene progress was thwarted by Crumlin’s eighth bowler former Blackwood player Andrew Clark (4-10 in 5.3 overs), atoning for dropping Teague early-on and the returning Veall, claiming three wickets in his second spell, with Ian Morgan (10) the only other Monmouth batsman to make double figures.
After the interval, Monmouth took to the field knowing they had to make early in-roads to defend a total which was probably at least 30 runs short of putting the chase out of reach, and what a start they made, with captain Roberts (3-56) removing opener Clark with the first ball of the innings, Alim Hansraj taking a smart catch at mid-off. When dangerman Simon Veall (9) fell to a great caught-and-bowled from veteran Paul Swingwood in the fourth over, it was very much game-on, as Crumlin wobbled on 20-2. The hosts set about their recovery with all their middle order batsmen making useful contributions, Ross Jolliffe (49), Dom Green (57), Connor Hopkins (28) and their veteran captain Ian Hopkins (34). Monmouth plugged away in the field, with catches for ‘Smudger’ Smith behind the stumps, Roberts and Hansraj with his second, to help James Taylor claim 2-40, with Breeze also returning 1-19.
The result was still anyone’s guess at the start of the 49th over, with Crumlin still needing 12 to win when losing their eighth wicket with only eight balls left, but they prevailed, Jordan Knott (26 not out) hitting a boundary off the penultimate ball of the innings, sealing a great all-round team performance to trigger wild celebrations from the home side and their fans. This result, together with second-placed Blackwood also winning, sees Monmouth’s lead at the top of the table cut drastically now to only one point, with Crumlin still in third place, just two points behind.
Monmouth will look to recover next Saturday as they reach the mid-point of the season, hosting the leagues bottom side Barry Athletic at the Sportsground, with a 12.30pm start. All spectators are most welcome.
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