South East Wales Cricket League

Division One

Sudbrook 1sts 241-8 beat Usk 1sts

SUDBROOK Firsts’ captain Jamie Watkins challenged his players to bounce back and put last week’s disappointing home defeat by bottom club Blackwood Town behind them.

Watkins was delighted with their winning response despite “taking their feet off the gas” at times.

After winning the toss, Watkins decided to bat first and was happy with a par score of 241-8.

“Our innings got off to a bad start when we lost Greg Shaw early on and then we lost James Hussey but Ross Lewis went about his innings undisturbed at the other end and I came in to partner him,” Watkins explained.

“We took the score through to 115-2 at drinks setting a solid platform for a big score, but I was run out for 31 straight after drinks and wickets fell at regular intervals.

“A score of 250 looked out of the question when Ross fell for 83 but Scott O'Leary hit a breezy 51 runs, again showing how talented he is with some free-flowing scoring in a brilliant display.”

Watkins knew having to defend a par total would mean his men had to field and bowl well to win.

“The opening bowlers gave us the perfect platform,” Watkins continued.

“Mitchell Slape and Jon Lewis struck regularly during their opening spells to leave Usk reeling at 70-5, but during the mid overs we took our foot of the gas and allowed Usk back in to it,

“They recovered to 185-7, giving themselves a chance of victory, but when James Hussey dislodged the ever-dangerous Owen Watkins’ middle stump the game swung in our favour and Jon Lewis quickly wrapped it with two wickets in an over to finish with impressive figures of 4-21, while Mitchell was equally impressive claiming three scalps.”

The skipper was delighted that his players had responded to his pre-match team talk.

“It was very pleasing to bounce back from last week’s defeat,” he said.

“We played some good cricket in spells, and have the potential to be a very good side, but we let Usk off the hook at one point but responded really well to finish comfortably.

“We hope to kick on when we travel to Pontypridd this Saturday.”