Monmouth retain league title (From Free Press Series)

Monmouth retain league title

MONMOUTH Cricket Club retained the Flint & Cook Marches League Division 1 title with a convincing 85-run home win over Wellington Nomads on Saturday.

The Welsh club's historic triumph was set up by Australian all-rounder Charlie Bye who blasted a brilliant 91 in their commanding 210-8 on a damp pitch.

In-form seam bowler Ed Barlow (4-21 from 15 overs) then got down to work and confined the Herefordshire side to a pedestrian 125-8.

The victory gave Monmouth their second successive league championship and it also secured their 13th win and a sixth 'double' of the campaign.

Monmouth, however, did not have it all their own way against their mid-table opponents and slipped to 33-3 in nine overs.

Opener Rob Prewett (15) and leading run-scorer David Teague, the former Glamorgan Seconds all-rounder, who made 14, were two of the early victims as Monmouth made a circumspect start.

At that point the reliable Gareth Hughes joined the big-hitting Bye and repaired the Monmouth innings.

The duo batted very sensibly, with Bye crashing the loose deliveries to the boundary, and Hughes playing a more measured knock.

In fact, their fourth-wicket stand of 129 in 27 overs proved crucial and put the home side in command against a spirited seam attack.

Bye blasted 14 fours and a six in his match-winning innings, which was just nine runs short of a deserved century, from just 87 balls.

Bye was eventually well caught on the boundary with the Monmouth total at a healthy 162 in the 36th over.

Hughes, who played the supporting role, struck four boundaries in his 46, which was a determined effort from the left-hander.

In the closing overs, Tom Baker weighed in with an unbeaten 17 which took Monmouth, sponsored by Misbah Tandoori Restaurant, past the 200-mark on a drying pitch. The most successful Wellington bowler was Steve Fortey who claimed 4-76, while Phil Chalkley took 3-44.

After the interval, accurate bowling from Monmouth skipper Paul Swingwood (0-15 from eight) and Birmingham University graduate Barlow reduced the visitors to just 8-2 off 12 overs.

Wellington's opening batsman Chris Fry dropped the anchor for 30 in 38 overs and the visitors did not make an attempt to chase the Monmouth total.

Teague bagged 1-27 from eight, Baker bowled four maiden overs before being replaced, while Leighton Rees (1-4), Hughes (1-16) and Wayne Etheridge (1-18) chipped in with wickets.

Swingwood took a superb running catch in the deep, with wicket-keeper Jonathan Davies claiming two dismissals. Rees and Prewett held catches for the champions. The match balls were sponsored by Hancocks of Monmouth and DS Smith Tri-Wall Ltd.

Monmouth round off their league campaign this Saturday at Glangrwyney - the club who they will also meet in the final of the Advantage Business Supplies Marches League Knockout Cup on Sunday, September 5.