South East Wales Cricket League Division Three - Monmouth CC First XI (266) beat Machen CC First XI (90) by 176 runs

MONMOUTH Cricket Club First XI returned to winning ways on Saturday with a comprehensive 176-run victory at home against Machen CC, and it was the club’s youngsters that predominantly led the way.

On a warm afternoon, returning skipper Ben Turner won the toss and chose to bat first on another fantastic looking wicket at the MCG. The decision seemed to be a good one as openers Matt Jones (67) and Josh Grey (40) raced along to 100 off just 10 overs before Grey fell to a lazy shot off Machen’s best bowler Delme Smith (5-50 off 9). 

With the introduction for the visitors of spinner Devinder Singh (1-16 off 9) working in tandem with Smith, the run rate slowed down considerably and wickets began to fall at more regular intervals, although Adam Roberts (33), Ben Turner (24), Sam Swingwood (15), Alim Hansraj (11) and Ben Pilot (11) all managed double figure scores as Monmouth, helped by an extraordinary 58 extras, were eventually bowled all out in their final over for a competitive but far from safe looking 266 all out.

Following tea, Monmouth knew that wicket taking was key, but Machen openers Nick Hatton (12) and Rhys Thomas (26) took the score to 45 off the first 10 before Hatton was undone by an excellent delivery from the ever reliable Alim Hansraj (2-19 off 9). However, it was the introduction of Monmouth’s young spinners that really turned the tide. Wales under 14 left arm spinner Ben Davies (4-30 off 9) and Gwent under 13 leg spinner Sam Swingwood (4-10 off 4.5) were simply too good for the Machen line up as the visitors slipped from 65-3 to 90 all out in a short space of time. Swingwood in particular was in devastating form, taking a wicket off his first ball and at one stage having the remarkable bowling figures of 3-3-0-3!

The Machen innings was eventually ended in just the 28th over to give Monmouth a much needed 20 point haul in their push for promotion. It was a particularly pleasing effort in the field as well, putting behind them the disappointment of last weeks game at Monkswood, with catches taken by Alim Hansraj (2), Matthew Jones, Adam Roberts, Ben Pilot, Josh Grey and wicket-keeper Jon Despontin. The result, coupled with league leaders Whitchurch Heath’s defeat at home to new leaders Crumlin, plus Creigiau’s game at Vale being victim to the rain sees Monmouth move up to second place, but with just 12 points separating fifth place from first there’s still everything to play for with seven games left.

Next Saturday Monmouth will look to continue their winning ways as they travel to Llantwit Fardre, with a 1pm start. Anyone interested in playing cricket for Monmouth should contact [email protected]