South East Wales Cricket League Division Two - Monmouth (298-4) beat Barry Athletic (205 all out) by 93 runs

MONMOUTH Cricket Club First XI go in to the half way stage of their Division Two South East Wales Cricket League top of the table having won seven and lost just two from their opening nine fixtures.

Monmouth, sponsored by Burkert Fluid Control Systems, were promoted from third place in Division Three last year, and have surely surprised a few sides in Division Two along the way this season in their rise to the top.

On Saturday, Monmouth won the toss against bottom ranked side Barry Athletic and had no hesitation to bat first on a baking hot day on what was a rock hard wicket at the MCG. The decision proved to be a sound one as in form openers Matt Jones (131) and Dave Teague (57) put on 135 for the first wicket despite a couple of early scares which saw a missed stumping for Jones, and a dropped catch at slip for Teague.

Once Teague fell at the 30 over mark, the foundations were laid for Monmouth’s attacking middle order to play their usual game alongside Jones, whose 131 came off just 157 balls and included 18 fours as he dispatched any loose deliveries to all parts of the Sports Ground. In support of Jones were skipper Adam Roberts (30) and an explosive innings from Josh Grey whose 66 not out came off just 34 deliveries as Monmouth eventually closed on an imposing looking 298-4 off their allotted 50 overs. For the visitors it was hot and sticky work in the field with wickets for M.Anwar (1-41 off 8), F.Zeeshan (1-34 off 7) and skipper B.Usswald (2-63 off 7) plus a typically miserely opening spell from J.Gee (0-23 off 10).

In reply, Barry Athletic went at their chase with great gusto with opener Fakhar Zeesham smashing 20 off just 11 balls before he went for one shot too many against opener Jon Roberts (2-40 off 5) being well caught at mid-off by Dave Teague. At 20-2 Monmouth may have thought there was an opportunity for Barry Atheltic to crumble but instead it brought to the crease opposition wicket-keeper Nathan Baker who had other ideas. Baker (107) hit a magnificent century, chanceless from the start, and he single-handedly pushed his side all the way up to 187-8 and within a sniff of a most unlikely victory before he fell to a Paul Swingwood full toss, well caught on the leg-side boundary by Jon Roberts. From then there were contributions from Simon Phillips (16) and Billy Usswald (22) but there was just too much for the visitors to do as they closed on 205 all out in the 43rd over. In the field Monmouth stuck to their task well and there were wickets for Dave Teague (2-51 off 10), Alim Hansraj (2-32 off 9) as well as Paul Swingwood (3-24 off 7.4) and catches held by Teague, J.Roberts (2), A.Roberts and wicket-keeper A.Smith who also took a stumping to end the game and give Monmouth a well fought 20 points. The result sees Monmouth on 145 points, with both Blackwood and Crumlin in joint second on 142 points. Next Saturday Monmouth firsts have another tough home game as they host Whitchurch Heath from Cardiff, 12.30pm start and all spectators are most welcome.