A hard-fought 80 from opener Matthew Jones could not save Monmouth Cricket Club from a damaging 46-run defeat at table-topping Pontymister in the Thomas Carroll Glamorgan and Monmouthshire League Division Three. 

In reply to Pontymister's 250-9, only teenager Jones, Wayne Etheridge (46) and Josh Grey (34) reached double figures for Monmouth who slipped to a disappointing 204-8 from 50 overs. 

Monmouth knew they had to win the game to keep alive their promotion hopes. 

Monmouth's sixth defeat of the campaign has seen them slide to sixth spot in the table and they have a mountain to climb in their final three matches. 

Bowling first on a slow low pitch, captain Paul Swingwood (3-38), newcomer Charles Griffin (1-42), Richie Shaw (1-35) and Henry Breeze (2-22) took wickets for Monmouth. 

Along with spells from newcomer Matt Lovett, Ben Turner, pictured, and Jonathan Jones, Monmouth reduced the home team to 144-5 at the 40- over stage. However, Sulman Muhammed (85) and A Khawaja (44) tore apart Monmouth's bowling attack in the final 10 overs as the Risca outfit slammed eight sixes.  

In reply, Monmouth's top-three batsmen Jones, Etheridge and Grey gave them hope and briefly threatened to impose a resounding victory.   

Monmouth, sponsored by JD Wetherspoon, had nine wickets in hand and needed to score at a rate of nine runs from the final 13 overs. 

But Monmouth lost their second wicket at 162 and, not for the first time this season, their innings crumbled as the pressure told.   

Monmouth closed on 204-8 with Iftikhar Ahmad (2-33), Muhammed (2-44) and Mohammed Asif (2-52) all shining for the title-favourites. 

Monmouth will be aiming to bounce back at the Sports Ground this Saturday when they host fifth-placed Ponthir. 

The border outfit are still looking for new players and volunteers and, for more details about joining the club, e-mail: [email protected]">[email protected]