LAST Saturday (30th May) a depleted Penallt side travelled to Newent on what turned out to be a pleasant sunny afternoon.

Stand-in captain Graham Hyde called tails and lost the toss, and Penallt were asked to bat on what looked like a good wicket, albeit a little green in places.

Hyde and Margetts opened the batting and faced some lively bowling from Field (2-22) and Devries (0-33).

Field in particular found some good pace and early life in the wicket. Hyde (8) was the first to fall attempting a hook shot with the score on 22.

Adams joined Margetts at the wicket by which time Margetts was batting beautifully, including some delightful straight drives, only to fall for 33 to a poorly timed shot.

Next in was Swanson (33) and he and Adams took the score on to 114 before Adams fell, somewhat unluckily for 24. Swanson and the next four batsmen struggled against some accurate bowling from Gayther (0/23), Clyde (2/24) and Hayes (4/28) who in particular deceived the batsmen with a mixture of deliveries.

It looked as though Penallt were going to fall short of 150 and an extra batting point, but Jeffs and Eves saw the overs out and took the score to 162 with some dogged determination.

In reply to Penallt's total Newent were soon behind the run rate scoring 27 of the first 10 overs. This was due to some fine swing and seam bowling from Margetts (1/18) and Cole (1/20).

As Newent accelerated, captain Hyde used all his experience to try and turn the game around, but neither he, Jacques (1/28), Eves (2/45) nor Swanson (1/34) could prevent Newent reaching the total in the 38th over with three wickets to spare. Percival (22), Field (55) and Clyde (34 not out) being the main run scorers for Newent.

The Penallt team batted and fielded well, the difference in winning and losing this game was down to one thing only and that was fielding a side with only 10 players.

Any budding cricketers (young or old) who would like to play can join the club's net practice on Thursday evenings from 6pm at the ground at Pelham Hall, Penallt.