A hard-hitting unbeaten 89 from Matt Lovett powered Monmouth Cricket Club to an emphatic seven-wicket win against Cardiff Gymkhana at Llandaff Fields. In reply to Gymkhana's 206-9, Lovett and Tej Saran (48 not out) swept Monmouth to the target in 35.1 with an unbroken 159-run fourth-wicket stand. Lovett hammered six sixes and six fours, including two huge hits which sailed out of the ground in last Saturday's Thomas, Carroll Glamorgan and Monmouthshire League Division Three match. Lovett hit the ball with ferocity and, on one occasion, he struck league umpire Rhys Jones on the chest with a brutal straight drive. It was Monmouth's seventh successive league win and it keeps Ben Turner's men in third position. Monmouth's victory sets up a titanic and eagerly-awaited top-of-the-table battle this Saturday against leaders Lisvane at the Sports Ground, 1pm start. Lisvane suffered a 12-run defeat against second-placed Dinas Powys last weekend, while Ponthir remain in fourth spot after hitting a six off the last ball to overcome rivals Whitchurch Heath. Abdulla Jaura (59) was the mainstay of Gymkhana's respectable total against Monmouth, who chose to field first on a sweltering afternoon in Cardiff. Disappointingly, Monmouth dropped a host of catches, while Faraz Asif (39) and Imran Juara (22) also weighed in for the hosts. But Josh Grey was superb in the outfield, taking three excellent catches and engineering a run-out. Aled Jones (3-37 from 10 overs) was Monmouth's most successful bowler and was backed up by captain Turner (2-28), Saran (1-20 from 10), chairman Martin Newell (1-32 from eight) and Richard Shaw (0-32 from seven). Wicketkeeper Jon Despontin and Turner also held sharp catches. After the interval, Monmouth slipped to 51-3, including the dismissal of in-form Grey for 23, which included five boundaries. But Monmouth, sponsored by JD Wetherspoon, hit back through former Chepstow player Lovett and Saran to put the visitors firmly in control. The duo swiftly repaired the day and eventually powered the visitors to victory with almost 15 overs to spare. Meanwhile, a magnificent 92 from Ali Hay inspired Monmouth Seconds to a thrilling three-wicket home win over Cardiff Gymkhana Seconds in 2nd XI Division Three. Chasing the visitors' 239 all out, Mike Maguire (8 not out) kept his nerve to strike the winning boundary for Monmouth with just two balls to spare in an exciting match at the Sports Ground. Jake Bowley (46), opener Tom Jones (27), Josh Hughes (16) and Luke Bowley (10) all shone in a memorable afternoon for mid-table Monmouth Seconds. Earlier, Hay (2-7), Jake Bowley (2-42 from seven overs), skipper Rick Parkes (2-44 from nine) and Luke Bowley (1-32 from nine) helped to restrict Gymkhana to 239 all out in 44.2 overs. Majid (90) and Ismail Saqid (46) were the leading scorers for the depleted Cardiff outfit, who fielded just nine men, in an absorbing match.