South East Wales Cricket League Division Two - Monmouth First XI (270-8) beat Rogerstone (79 all out) by 191 runs

MONMOUTH Cricket Club’s First XI bounced back following their first defeat of the season away at Cardiff Central last week in emphatic style on Saturday, beating an under-strength Rogerstone by 191 runs.

Monmouth, sponsored by Burkert Fluid Solutions, were made to wait for over an hour and a half before play could get under way at the Sportsground as heavy and persistent drizzle threatened to make play impossible. However, a break in the clouds and a reduced overs game of 33 overs a side was agreed with Monmouth winning the toss and batting first on an outstanding looking wicket.

Monmouth openers Matt Jones (35) and Dave Teague (40) got the home side off to a real flyer, racing along to 85-1 off the first 10 overs. The aggressive intent was carried on by all of Monmouth’s top order with skipper Adam Roberts (40 off 40 balls) and Ben Pilot (20 off 22 balls) offered great support to Henry Breeze whose 91 was the mainstay of the Monmouth innings and came off just 63 balls. In the end Monmouth lost a few wickets at the death but closed on a very competitive looking 270-8 off their allotted 33 overs. For the visitors there were wickets for skipper Jake Ramji (1-45 off seven), James Nash-Wright (3-58 off seven), Richard Webb (3-51 off 6.4) and Matthew Tutton (1-38 off four).

In reply, an under strength Rogerstone line up missing several of their key players failed to find the same fluidity as Monmouth did during their innings, and soon found themselves in deep trouble at 43-6. Only Matthew Tutton (14), Richard Webb (13), Jake Ramji (10) and some lusty late order blows from James Nash-Wright (20) scored in double figures as Monmouth skittled their visitors out for just 79 inside 25 overs. With the ball there were wickets for seamer Jon Roberts (2-12 off seven) with skipper Adam Roberts (0-19 off seven) keeping it tight at the other end. However, it was the introduction of spin that caused the Rogerstone collapse and in particular Dave Teague who took 6-18 in just 5.3 overs of well flighted deliveries. The 20 point haul seems Monmouth stretch their lead at the top of Division Two to 11 points from Blackwood, but they face possibly their biggest test next Saturday travelling away to third placed Crumlin where they have never won before. Match starts at 12.30pm.

Anyone interested in playing cricket for Monmouth should contact Dave Walters on [email protected]