MONMOUTH Cricket Club turned their attentions to the shorter format last Friday as they faced Glamorgan and Monmouthshire Division 1 opponents Chepstow at the Athletic Ground.

Division 3's Monmouth won the toss on a dark and miserable evening and, with the significant threat of rain in the air, decided on batting first.

In form openers Josh Grey and Adam Roberts started

very positively as they took the score from 42-0 off six overs to 113-1 off 15 overs, before Grey fell to Chepstow captain and former Monmouth opening bowler Jon Roberts (1-21 off 3) for a well constructed 44.

From then on Adam Roberts took the lead, before he was bowled by Tudor Morgan-Huggett for a well paced 60, his innings consisting of eight fours and one massive six.

After the fall of Roberts, and despite a run-a-ball 21 from Matt Jones, the Monmouth innings was pegged back well by the Chepstow attack and in particular Tudor Morgan-Huggett (1-17 off 4) as Monmouth closed on a competitive looking 149-3 off their allotted 20 overs in what were tough conditions for both sides.

In reply, Monmouth made a solid start with the ball as they removed Glamorgan 2nds and Wales opener

Gareth Ansell for five, as well as the dangerous Carwyn James for 13 to leave the game evenly poised at 47-2 off five overs.

However, the Chepstow innings was transformed by Tyler Morgan-Huggett (64 not out) and D.Bennett (34) who took the score to 95-3 off 13 overs.

For Monmouth there were wickets for R.Kuttappu (2-47 off 4), captain Ben Turner (1-27 off 4) and King's Taunton schoolboy Henry Breeze (1-21 off 4).

There was also some stand out fielding with catches for Adam Roberts and Dave Croudace (2), plus a sharp stumping for new signing Rhydian James.

In truth though the visitors had no answer to Morgan-Huggett's innings consisting of six fours and two sixes, as his explosive hitting in the gloom propelled Chepstow to the required total in the 18th over.

Despite the defeat, Monmouth's involvement in the competition is not over as they can look forward to hosting the final of the competition on Sunday 9th August.

Sadly, Monmouth's 1st and 2nd XI Glamorgan and Monmouthshire Division 3 fixtures against newly promoted Pentwyn fell victim to the heavy showers over the weekend and were cancelled.

Next Saturday sees Monmouth 1st XI host another of their promotion rivals as Ebbw Vale make the trip to the Sports Ground with a 1pm start.