BRILLIANT centuries from Richard Cotton and Tom Willgoss fired Monmouth 3rds to a dominant eight-wicket triumph against Malpas 4ths at Chippenham Fields in South Wales East 15 on Saturday, reports IAN MORGAN.

In reply to Malpas’ 258 all out in 40 overs, Cotton with 118 and Willgoss 106 powered Theo Minnie’s Monmouth side to the target with a pulsating 236-run opening stand.

Cotton struck 16 fours and five sixes in his stunning 105-ball knock and Willgoss faced just 80 balls in his superb innings, hitting 13 fours and five sixes.

The pair both departed with the winning post in sight, leaving Will Powles (eight not out) and wicketkeeper Alexander Wilton (five not out) to complete the win in 33.1 overs.

Earlier, skipper Minnie (4-26 from five overs) and Neil Saunders (3-46) took the bowling plaudits for Monmouth, while Harshaji Ansela hit an excellent 117 for Malpas and was supported by Albie Lansdown (28).

Cotton (2-56) and Simon Kidd (1-38) chipped in with wickets for the hosts and the economical Steve Vickers conceded 17 runs from his eight overs in an accurate spell that included 21 successive dot balls.

Willgoss, Will Powles and Sean McCluskey all held catches for the 3rds, who host Porth 2nds at Chippenham Fields this Saturday (12.30pm).

Elsewhere, Monmouth 4ths went down by seven wickets against Huntley 3rds at Cinderford in an enjoyable friendly.

Bea Jones (22), father Barry Jones (19), Zac Bowen (15), James Nayager (12), Dylan Igoe (11) and Richard Bowen (10) all reached double figures in Monmouth’s 137 all out.

Richard Bernard (1-18), Jacob Deighton (1-18), and Igoe (1-34) each took a wicket and Florence and Mike Carnell and Zac Bowen all delivered promising spells for Pablo Nayager’s side.

Holly Mayers top scored with 52 for Huntley, who overhauled Monmouth’s total in a contest played in tremendous spirit.