South East Wales Cricket League Division Three (Second XI)

MONMOUTH Cricket Club’s second XI got their new season off to a flying start with a commanding seven-wicket win at home to Sully Centurions.

Skipper Rick Parkes won the toss and elected to field on an early season wicket that might have caused the visiting side problems. However, the visitors made a controlled, if slow, start to the game with Monmouth’s opening four bowlers unable to break through. Nonetheless, excellent spells particularly from Ben Pilot (17-1 from eight overs with two maidens) and Alfie Roberts (8-3-16-1), who started his spell with three maidens and a smart, organised performance in the field restricted Sully to 72 at the second 30-over drinks break. Immediately afterwards Monmouth took their first wicket thanks to Keiran Shaw (4-1-20-1), which was the cue for Sully to launch an assault in the final 10 overs. As a result the runs sped up, as did the wickets, with returns for Neil Saunders (34-1 from seven overs) and Tony Brennan (37-1 from six, including a maiden) while Chris Chalk also contributed with 34-0 from seven. There was a catch for Shaw, a sharp stumping from Gaz Hughes, who kept wicket outstandingly in his first stint for three years, and a run-out off the final ball to gain an extra league fielding point, thanks to tidy work between Brennan and Robinson, which saw Sully close on 166-6 from their 40 overs.

In reply, Monmouth quickly got ahead of the run rate, with a solid platform being provided by openers Rob Pendleton (20) and Steve Gale (14), while Chris Chalk (36) accelerated the pace thanks to several leg-side sweeps from long strides off Sully’s slow bowlers. Greg Pendleton (29 not out), whose innings included a six that hit the clubhouse ceiling and man-of-the-match Ben Pilot (51 not out) completing his first senior cricket 50 with a mature innings that included six boundaries, saw Monmouth home to a comfortable win by seven wickets in the 28th over.

Next up Monmouth, sponsored by Bürkert Fluid Control Systems visit Ebbw Vale next Saturday for their second fixture of the season.