Cheltenham/Gloucester/Forest League Division Two West - Monmouth Third XI (82) lost to Penallt and Redbrook First XI (86-1) by nine wickets

MONMOUTH Thirds suffered a nine wicket defeat to Penallt on Saturday in Division Two West of the Cheltenham/Gloucester/Forest League, with conditions playing a major part in the result. Third team captain Liam Stubbs lost a crucial toss and saw his side put into bat on a damp wicket and with the threat of more rain in the air.

Run scoring was never going to be easy until the pitch dried, and Monmouth, sponsored by Ancre Hill Vineyards, suffered two early setbacks, losing opener Gaz Hughes and vice captain Neil Saunders within the first four overs, due to the accurate bowling of Lyndon Jacques (2-11) and Eaves (1-11). Hughes was superbly caught at short leg, while Saunders received a ball which turned sharply and clipped the top of his off stump.

Stubbs and number four Barry Jones mounted something of a rescue act with some stubborn batting, taking their partnership to over thirty at the drinks interval. Constant rain interventions made life difficult for the Monmouth batsmen, but things looked promising as the partnership accelerated. Jones hit two fours while Stubbs cleared the boundary with a big straight six. It was too good to last however, and both fell in quick succession after scoring 25 and 16 respectively.

An inexperienced lower order struggled against accurate Penallt bowling, with only Tony Brennan (10) and Javed Choudhury (7) making any headway. A score of 83 was well below par on a drying wicket and against much more experienced opposition.

Despite a downpour during the tea interval, play got underway promptly but Monmouth’s bowlers found their small total hard to defend. The only bowler to make a breakthrough was 15 year old Shannon Maguire, taking her first wicket in senior cricket. Maguire managed to make the ball nip off the seam to Penallt opener Chris Margetts (20), who mis-cued a drive in the air. The catch was safely taken by Jones at mid-on to make Maguire only the second woman to take a wicket in senior cricket for Monmouth.

Despite the setback, Penallt were guided home by captain and former Monmouth stalwart Graham Hyde (27 not out), who survived a close leg before wicket shout to take his team across the line inside 14 overs.