South East Wales Cricket League Division Three (First XI) - Barry Wanderers (235-6) lost to Monmouth (236-5) by five wickets

MONMOUTH Cricket Club’s First XI rounded their league season off in style on Saturday chasing down Barry Wanderers impressive total of 235-6 for the loss of just five wickets at their picturesque Hayes Point Ground.

Despite the victory however, it ultimately meant very little in the grand scheme of things, as Sully Centurions secured the second promotion spot in Division Three of the South East Wales League thanks to a narrow three-wicket win at home to Creigiau.

On a glorious afternoon down on the coast, Barry Wanderers won the toss and elected to bat first on a good looking wicket. The decision seemed to pay off as despite an impressive but luckless opening spell from skipper Adam Roberts (0-18 off 7) where he consistently beat the edge of the bat, the hosts moved along to 63 before the loss of their first wicket thanks to a sharp caught and bowled from Wales U15 left arm spinner Ben Davies (2-35 off 9) to remove Matt Anderson for 30. With former Dinas Powys and Radyr opener Brychan Tudor (44) going along well Barry Wanderers were well placed at the 25 over stage with the score at 99-1.

Davies managed to strike again though soon after removing the well set Tudor with another sharp caught and bowled chance. Good contributions following this dismissal though came from J.Hornby (32) and K.Mhadgut (35) as Barry’s innings progressed to 197-5. Monmouth were able to maintain some level of control thanks largely to the efforts of young Wales U12 off spinner Owen Harris (2-55 off 9) on debut, and the ever reliable Alim Hansraj (1-29 off 8), though containing Barry on a ground with such small straight boundaries was far from straightforward.

The Wanderers innings really gained momentum in the final stages though thanks to the brutal hitting of J.Williams whose 32 not out came off just 12 balls and included four huge sixes as the innings closed on an impressive looking 235-6 off their allotted 45 overs.

Monmouth in truth didn’t have their best afternoon in the field, with some sloppy ground fielding and missed chances not helping, but there were catches for Adam Roberts (2) and a stumping for Gwent U14 wicket-keeper Joe Harris, which aided younger brother Owen in achieving his first ever first team wicket.

In reply, Monmouth sponsored by Burkert Fluid Solutions, knew that with small boundaries straight and an excellent batting surface they were not out of the game by any means, and a quick opening stand of 63 off just nine overs between Adam Roberts (27) and Henry Breeze (38) gave Monmouth exactly the start they were after before Roberts was unfortunate to chop on to his own stumps off the bowling of J.Williams (1-61 off 9).

Breeze and Grey then continued the free scoring moving the total along to 105 in the 18th over before Breeze clipped one in the air on the leg side off spinner J.Hill (2-35 off 9). This brought to the crease the ever reliable and season’s leading run scorer Matt Jones (72 not out) and despite being dropped early on in his innings, Jones held the Monmouth chase together superbly, particularly after Josh Grey was adjudged LBW for a well-made 45 in the 26th over.

Contributions then from youngsters Ben Pilot (11) and Ben Davies (15) took the Monmouth total within reach of their target, and in a fitting end to the season Alim Hansraj hit the winning runs with a magnificent six over extra cover in the 41st over.

Despite the win, news filtered through shortly after that Sully had won at home to Creigiau meaning Monmouth were destined to finish outside the promotion places in 3rd place, 10 points behind Sully. Despite the obvious disappointment of being so close once again, the club can be immensely proud of all its efforts this season, and with four home grown U15 players featuring in the First XI in the final match and with several more across the club’s three senior league sides featuring throughout the season, the future looks very bright indeed.

If anyone is interested in joining Monmouth CC next season,  whether young or old, experienced or novice, please do get in touch with [email protected] to found out more details.