Monmouth romp away (From Free Press Series)

Monmouth romp away

MONMOUTH Cricket Club maintained their position at the top of the Flint & Cook Marches League Division 1 with a crushing 140-run win at Leominster on Saturday.

Superb batting performances from David Teague (84), Dan Head (75 not out) and Dave Croudace (61) helped Monmouth to pile up 310-3 from 45 overs.

Although Leominster made a positive start to their reply, man-of-the-match Ed Barlow snapped up 7-43 - his best bowling figures for Monmouth - and the North Herefordshire outfit were dismissed for 170.

The resounding victory gave table-topping Monmouth their first league 'double' of the campaign and an eighth victory in nine matches.

Croudace showed some flashes of brilliance in his innings and, backed up by Ian Morgan (20), the pair put on 94 for the first wicket in 21 overs.

Monmouth, sponsored by Misbah Tandoori Restaurant, started their innings with caution, scoring 22 runs from the opening ten overs, but gradually took control of the match.

Croudace struck eight fours and a six in his 77-ball knock and when he was dismissed with the score at 107, Head joined Teague at the crease.

The third-wicket pair tore apart Leominster's bowling attack and plundered 137 runs in just 14 run-filled overs.

Teague caned 14 fours and a six in his brilliant 51-ball innings. He reached his half-century from just 34 deliveries.

Head was a little more sedate, reaching his half-century in 45 balls, smashing ten boundaries in his unbeaten 64-ball knock.

When Teague was bowled with the score at 244 in the 38th over, Charlie Bye strode out to the middle and lashed an undefeated 37 from 25 balls.

The unbroken fourth-wicket pair crashed 52 runs from the last five overs of the innings to propel Monmouth to their second highest total of the campaign.

To their credit, Leominster made a flying start, racing to 33 runs in just four overs, but the visitors' bowlers gradually got down to work.

Although stand-in skipper Jonathan Roberts was not able to bowl due to injury, he shuffled his pack around well.

Aled Jones (3-45 from 15 overs) eventually achieved the breakthrough when he removed Dave Barrington (50) with the Leominster total at 88 in the 20th over.

Barlow was soon in the act, removing Dave Bywater for 23 and then Nick Palmer for eight, to leave Leominster reeling at 99-3.

Barlow continued to torment the home side and was responsible for reducing Leominster to 131-6 and then to 149-9.

Barlow completed a brilliant performance by claiming the final wicket in the 44th over and made sure that Monmouth collected a maximum 20-point haul.

Good catches were taken by Bye (2), Jonathan Davies (2), Roberts (2), David York and Head.

The match balls were sponsored by Monmouth Rugby Club and DS Smith Tri-Wall Ltd. Monmouth will be aiming to continue their fine run when they host Wormelow at the Sports Ground this Saturday, 2pm start.