Jon gets Monmouth into swing (From Free Press Series)

Jon gets Monmouth into swing

A SUPERB spell of swing bowling from Jon Jones inspired Monmouth Cricket Club's Second team to an impressive 33-run home win over high-flying Bartestree & Lugwardine in the Flint & Cook Marches League Division 2 on Saturday.

The left-arm seam bowler snapped up 6-65 from 15 overs as Monmouth recorded their fifth victory in six Marches League outings.

Jones was backed up by some excellent fielding and accurate support bowling as Monmouth condemned the Herefordshire club to a second defeat of the season.

Perhaps the margin of victory should have been much greater, but it was still a fine win for Monmouth against much-fancied opposition.

Monmouth Seconds, sponsored by Roscoe, Rogers and Knight, produced their best batting display of the campaign in scoring a competitive 219/6 from 45 overs.

There were fine contributions from in-form Adam King (52), aggressive opener Neil Franklin (48) and the hard-hitting Martin Newell (31 not out).

Franklin and Ian Morgan (14) gave Monmouth a positive start with an opening stand of 42 in ten overs before Franklin and King kept up the momentum.

King, who notched up his second consecutive half-century for the team, struck eight boundaries in a classy 66-ball knock and Franklin notched up six fours and a six as he narrowly missed out on a 50.

Andrew Smith made a breezy 21 and Jones showed his all-round capabilities with 19 before Newell provided some later-order fireworks in a typically belligerent

15-ball innings, which included two sixes and two fours. Gareth Hughes also gave valuable support with an unbeaten 11.

After the interval, Monmouth made a dream start when they dismissed three key Bartestree batsmen with just 21 runs on the board.

Although Matt Aubrey made 46 and Dean Smith 30 Monmouth remained firmly in control and reduced the Herefordshire villagers to 109/6 from 32 overs.

Then, with the game slipping away from Bartestree, Jamie Bullock decided to hit out and hammered a swash-buckling 68 not out from 54 balls.

Although Bullock led something of a one-man salvo, he eventually ran out of partners and Bartestree were dismissed for 186 in the 44th over.

Sully bagged 2-53 from 15 overs and skipper Leonard finished with 2-64 from 12.3 overs, but there was no denying that Jones was the leading performer. Jones clean bowled two victims and had four caught as he returned the second best bowling figures of his playing career.

There were also fine catches taken by King (2), Dan MacDonald (2), wicket-keeper Jon Despontin, Smith, Sully, and Franklin.

The match balls were sponsored by Pamela Gustavus-Jones and Graham's Electricals.

This Saturday, Monmouth Seconds face their toughest challenge of the season so far when they travel to table-topping Garnons.