Glamorgan and Monmouthshire Cricket League - Machen seconds (175-5) beat Monmouth seconds (172-3) by five wickets

A MUCH-changed Monmouth second team again missing many of its regular players lost by five wickets to Machen in their first home opening fixture of the new season.

With the MCG (Monmouth Cricket Ground) bathed in glorious sunshine, Machen won the toss and elected to field. Monmouth’s top-order progressed well with debutant Joe Walton (30) and Rob Pendleton (65 not out) with a quick-fire 38 from Steve Gale putting a 200+ total in view after 25 overs.

However runs became hard to come by thereafter despite the excellent batting pitch, and with wickets in hand, the home side closed on 173-3 off their allotted 40 overs, with skipper Rick Parkes feeling over tea that they had come up 30 runs short.

In the event, however, Monmouth’s reply with the ball saw no fewer than eight catches put down, including one off Machen’s opener from the fourth ball of the innings, with every Monmouth bowler suffering from at least one dropped catch. Both Henry Damon and Javed Choudary bowled good opening spells, supported well by Joe Walton and George Stephens, while Gwent under 13 Alfie Robonson (1-18) picked up his first senior league wicket.

The star of the show though was his Gwent under 13 team mate Sam Swingwood (4-37), who showed maturity beyond his years by removing a Machen batsman’s middle stump the very next ball after being hit for a six on to the clubhouse roof. His leg-spin bowling master class included clean-bowling Machen’s number three batsman around his legs with a Shane Warne-like delivery.

The returning Tony Jones kept smartly behind the stumps while Barry Jones fielded confidently at cover throughout, but in the end Machen inched their way to victory in the 37th over.

Next Saturday Monmouth seconds travel away to Llantwit Fadre still looking for their first victory of the season. Anyone interested in playing cricket for Monmouth this season should contact [email protected]