Openers set up victory (From Free Press Series)

Openers set up victory

A MATCH-WINNING 203-run opening stand between Ian Morgan and 14-year-old Tej Saran helped Monmouth Cricket Club's Second team to an emphatic eight-wicket victory at Builth Wells in the Flint & Cook Marches League Division 2 on Saturday.

Replying to Builth's challenging 231-5, Morgan struck 112 and teenager Saran made 96 which set up second-placed Monmouth's eighth win from nine matches and their second league 'double' of the season.

Their partnership lasted 38 overs and took a much-changed Monmouth team to the brink of victory, eventually secured in the 42nd over by Jag Saran (7 not out) and Max Harris (5 not out).

The left-handed Morgan collected 18 fours and three sixes in his second century of the season, while teenager Saran struck nine fours and three sixes as he narrowly missed out on a richly deserved hundred.

Gwent youth cricketer Saran was only drafted into the Monmouth side, sponsored by Roscoe, Rogers and Knight, because a number of players were at David Teague's Stag Weekend.

The Monmouth Comprehensive School pupil took his opportunity superbly and, at the latter stage of his innings, Saran blasted 44 runs in an incredible 11-ball spell.

Morgan and Saran were particularly brutal on Builth captain Rob Wall who finished with 1-100 from 13.2 overs.

The duo's double-century stand fell just short of the 219-run record opening partnership shared by Morgan and Martin Newell in the team's victory over Crickhowell 2nd last season.

Earlier, Builth had made a sound start through their veteran openers Gerald Morgan (31) and Winston Williams (28).

Morgan was the first dismissed at 75 in the 19th over, brilliantly caught at mid-off by the leaping Jon Despontin off Idris Leonard (1-50 from 15 overs).

And then Ian Morgan dived full-length in the gully to take a one-handed catch to remove Williams off the bowling of Tony Sully (2-56 from 15). Anthony Mead weighed in with 22 for the home club, who were handily placed at 181-4 from 40 overs.

Builth were propelled to their final total of 231-5 by the hard-hitting Tim Richards (48 not out) and D Lewis (26 not out).

Monmouth's other wicket-taker was Jag Saran (1-27), while Chris Brooks delivered nine overs for 42 runs, and there were sound performances from wicket-keeper Nick Rose, Rick Parkes and Adam Grey. The match balls were sponsored by Dave Pritchard and life-member Ian Bowen.

Monmouth Seconds will be hoping to keep up the pressure on table-topping Garnons when they host Ledbury at the Sports Ground this Saturday