USK 1sts squeezed home by a single wicket on Saturday to leapfrog hosts Bridgend Town to third in South Wales Premier One.

A low-scoring match saw just 249 runs scored for the loss of 19 wickets, but crucially the visitors still had one intact when they reached the target with 11 balls to spare.

Glamorgan's Billy Root, brother of England star Joe, and Ben Jones took two early wickets each, with Ollie Rayner removing three of the lower order, backed by single strikes for Sam Crisp, Matthew Marriott and Tamoor Zafar.

Eight of the wickets were catches, wicketkeeper Iwan Jones clutching three, with Bridgend all out for 123.

Usk also struggled with the bat, limping to 56-5, but seventh man Jones played the crucial innings, scoring 33, as they reached 126-9 to claim victory.

Paul Murphy starred with five wickets as the 2nds had things easier beating Barry Athletic 1sts by six wickets at home in South East Wales 3.

Barry were all out for 145 in the 39th over, with Oliver Hall and John Newington-Bridges chipping in with two wickets apiece and Ryan Price taking two catches.

The hosts then reached 146-4 with 10 overs to spare, opener Arvind Aswani scoring 32, Sidharth Ramesh 29, Jamie Jones 25 and Newington-Bridges 23 not out.

But the 3rds were on the end of a one-wicket last-over loss away to Radyr 4ths in SEW 9.

Usk were 141 all out last ball, Dave Harding-Smith out on his own with 66, supported in a 67-run third wicket stand by Neil Perrett with 18.

But Radyr squeezed to 142-9 with a ball to spare, Harding-Smith taking three of the wickets and Perrett two.

Usk’s midweek team also just missed out by four runs at home to Newport Tigers in the Big Smash League, Ollie Rayner and Alfie Rayner taking two wickets each in the hosts’ 144-6 off 18 overs before the visitors fell just short on 140-7, Ryan Jones firing 52 and Herbie Bone 27.

Fixtures this Saturday (June 7) include Usk 1sts v Swansea 1sts, Miskin Manor 2nds v Usk 2nds, Usk 3rds v Ponthir 2nds, while the 1sts host Panteg on Sunday (June 8), when the Women’s XI are also home to Sudbrook and Chepstow.