PENALLT & Redbrook CC beat derby visitors Monmouth by seven wickets to book their place in this week’s Forest Hundred semi-final - which will see a repeat knockout clash between them again tonight at the same Pelham ground (Wednesday, July 8).

Monmouth’s stand-in skipper Ben Davis got his side off to a flyer, welcoming the Penallt bowlers with a boundary first ball.

Playing attacking cricket all around the ground, he struck a brilliant 83, while at the other end, former Monmouth favourite Rajesh produced an excellent bowling spell, taking 3-20 from 20 balls.

Davis helped Monmouth, who included former Penallt skipper Gareth Jones, post 132-4 from 100 balls, with 10s from Ieuan Jones and Barry Jones.

Anand Babu also took 1-27 for Penallt, while Albin Baby, Kuldeep Singh, captain Vipin Sathy, Graham Emerson and Dilmohan Singh also bowled well.

Graham Emerson and Cameron Lee opened for the hosts, and after the latter was dismissed for seven, new man Amal Suku played a sensational innings, attacking the bowlers with clean hitting while Emerson provided smart strike rotation and valuable singles and doubles.

Emerson was eventually bowled by Davis for 34, before Dilmohan Singh added a useful 10 runs.

Amal remained calm under pressure, running hard between the wickets and hitting boundaries.

And with four runs required from five balls, he smashed the first ball for four to bring up a magnificent 50, featuring seven boundaries, to seal a memorable seven-wicket win for Penallt & Redbrook.

The hosts finished second in the ladder to make the semis in their debut season in the event, while Monmouth, led by Ben Pilot, finished third.

Teenager Ieuan Jones (1-18), Davies (1-20 from 20 balls) and Jacob Richards (1-33) took wickets for Monmouth.

Unbeaten champions Cinderford St John’s topped the ladder with 14 points, while Lydney were fourth.

Last year, Monmouth topped the ladder under Ben McCluskey, but lost to Cinderford in the final, by seven wickets

The final is at Monmouth Sports Ground on Sunday, July 19.