South East Wales Cricket League

Division Four

Undy & Magor (136 all out) lost to Llanarth (186 all out) by 50 runs

UNDY and Magor skipper Ryan Watson’s fears this match would be a tough test for his team were justified at Mill Lane on Saturday, writes Bob Cypher.

But it could have been a tighter finish had some of the mis-fields during the visitors’ innings been cut out as both teams suffered middle order collapses.

And as Watson admitted later, “it all went to pot!”

"I had a feeling it was going to be one of those days, when we struggled to get a breakthrough and didn’t take a wicket until the 23rd over,” he added.

“That came thanks to a superb diving catch from Mike Price but with seven potential bowlers, the plan was to chop and change and not let their batsmen get too settled.

“After drinks, with Mike Price and Mollie Smith on to bowl, that seemed to work.

"Although Mike finished with 2-50, which is costly for him, he got us the breakthrough and wickets seemed to tumble regularly from then on.

"Ollie Smith came on in his season debut, having not bowled since the end of April, and took a game changing 3-31 in his nine-over spell.

“We should have restricted Llanarth to at least 30 runs less, as we were let down by some poor fielding early on which set the tone and Llanarth finished on 186 all out in 43 overs.

“Again, we seemed to struggle to get going with the bat in the early part of our innings.

"Harry James opened with Steven Hepple, and though Harry did get off to a good start, Steve seemed to struggle to get his eye in, which is not like him at all. Harry was bowled for 31 and we were a long way behind the run rate, only scoring 26 in the first 10 overs,

“I was still confident we could reach the target with Richard Hudson, Mike Price and myself still left to bat but Llanarth brought on their off-spinner, who caused us all sorts of problems, and when Richard was bowled first ball, it was up to Mike to get scoring.

“He started very well and seemed to be timing the ball exquisitely and hit two sixes on the bounce, but was eventually given lbw on 38."

That left the skipper to press on, needing 80 runs in the remaining 18 overs, but he too departed early, as a result of what he called a 'ghost wicket'.

"I thought that was a very reasonable target but I was given out - wrongly in my opinion - caught behind for just five runs.

“I definitely did not get a nick and I’m certain I was nowhere near the ball but that was game over.

“I’m referring to it as a ‘ghost-wicket’."

But the skipper conceded that Llanarth bowled well and that poor fielding by his own team caused their downfall,

“With the strength in our side, we should have won comfortably, but now we travel to Abertillery on Saturday.

"They are yet to win this season, and I’m hopeful we can re-establish our confidence and winning mentality.”