South East Wales Cricket League Division Three (Second XI) - Monmouth Cricket Club (246-5) beat Vale Cricket Club (185-9) by 61 runs

MONMOUTH Cricket Club’s Second XI made it four wins from five as they finished the season strongly with a 61-run win at home in their final game of the season against higher-placed Vale.

Skipper Rick Parkes won the toss and elected to bat first on a well-prepared track that looked batting friendly. The home side then imposed themselves on proceedings, making good progress as they arrived at the 20-over drinks break at 89-1, having just lost opener Tom Jones for 17.

On resumption, Ian Morgan continued his fine form since returning in late July with a stylish 75, which featured 11 boundaries, including a fine swept six over deep square leg.

Monmouth’s upper order worked with Morgan to go through the gears, with Chris Chalk hitting nine boundaries in his 54 and fifteen year-old Ben Pilot falling just short of his maiden Second XI fifty with 47 not out from 39 balls. Raj Kattapu (11) also contributed at the close as Monmouth ended their 40 overs with an imposing 246-5, their highest total of the season.

After tea Monmouth, sponsored by Burkert Fluid Control Systems, made an early breakthrough thanks to opening bowler George Williamson (31-1 from seven overs). The home side also benefitted from first spells from Kattappu, Pilot and the returning Jon Roberts, who has re-joined Monmouth on loan from Chepstow ahead of a permanent move next season.

Nonetheless, the wicket remained batting friendly and Vale stayed in the hunt, arriving at 92-1 at drinks marginally ahead of where Monmouth had stood at the same point.

Vale progressed quickly to 115 following drinks, before a bowling change saw Chalk (23-2 from four overs) strike twice in his first over and also claim a smart run-out three overs later. This signalled a counter-attack from the dangerous Gareth Kelland (92), who single-handedly pushed Vale to 163 during the 32nd over.

Monmouth’s pressure in the field was building, however, with Greg Thomas imposing himself throughout the innings at short cover. The game changed completely when Parkes caught Kelland in the covers off the bowling of Alfie Robinson (50-2 from eight overs) who also took a catch during a nine-ball spell which saw the fall of four Vale wickets. Robinson’s two wickets in his final over were accompanied by two in the return spell from Roberts (22-2 from eight overs with Monmouth’s sole maiden) while Kattappu returned to close on 21-0 from seven overs and Pilot on 31-0 from five overs.

In search of the last two wickets, it was left to skipper Parkes (3-0 from one) to end the season and throw down the last over, which saw a smart run-out from Roberts to wicket-keeper Barry Jones. The final wicket just eluded Monmouth from the last four balls as Vale closed on 185-9, but the home side took 19 points from the fixture and end their season in the South East Wales Cricket League Division Three Second XI comfortably in mid-table.