It's a blast for fiery Teague (From Free Press Series)

It's a blast for fiery Teague

MONMOUTH Cricket Club started their defence of the Flint & Cook Marches League Division 1 crown with an emphatic 66-run win over Leominster, at the Sports Ground on Saturday.

Newcomer David Teague, the former Newport all-rounder, hammered a dazzling 47 from just 28 balls as Monmouth posted a respectable 177 on a slow pitch.

Monmouth's vice-captain Jonathan Roberts then brought about the Hereford-shire outfit's downfall with an excellent stint of 5-39 and helped shoot out Leominster for just 111.

Monmouth, sponsored by Misbah Tandoori Restaurant, made a solid start on a slow-paced pitch with Dan Head and Rob Prewett laying the foundations.

Head (19) was the first wicket to fall with the score at 32 in the 12th over and the experienced Prewett departed seven overs later for a solid 26.

The arrival of Teague, a former Glamorgan Seconds batsman, gave Monmouth fresh impetus and he proceeded to tear the Leominster attack to shreds.

Teague, making his debut in the Marches League, crashed four sixes and three fours in a dazzling innings, which contained just 12 scoring shots, before he was trapped lbw just three runs short of a half century.

Dave Croudace soon departed for 12 and Monmouth slumped to 118-6 from 29 overs. However, the home club's innings was resurrected by Aled Jones and Roberts.

Jones hit an important 26 from just 31 balls and Roberts batted sensibly for 13, while Alex Richards struck an unbeaten nine before Monmouth were eventually dismissed for 177 in 44.1 overs.

Spinner P Hawthorne was Leominster's most successful bowler, bagging 5-39, while Richard Finney (2-20) and Andy Dawson (2-41) also got among the wickets.

Leominster's hopes suffered an early setback when the lively Roberts bagged two wickets to reduce the visitors to 4-2 in the fifth over.

Although Russell Palmer (27) and Nick Palmer (20) gave Leominster renewed optimism, Roberts soon struck back, dismissing both batsmen.

It was not long before seam bowler Roberts sent S Cole back to the pavilion as he snapped up the first five Leominster wickets to fall for just 64 runs.

Roberts finished his 15-over stint with 5-39, including five maidens, and he was given valuable support by Richards, who bagged 3-22 from 12 overs.

Although Finney hit a defiant 44 for Leominster, Monmouth's bowlers kept plugging away and wickets from Aled Jones (1-2) and Teague (1-2) helped skittle out the visitors in the 41st over, as the reigning league champions eased to victory.

There were also good catches taken by Monmouth wicket keeper Jonathan Davies, skipper Paul Swingwood and Prewett.

Match ball was sponsored by Specsavers Monmouth.

Monmouth will be hoping to maintain their winning start when they travel the short distance to neighbouring Wormelow this Saturday, in a 2pm start.