South East Wales Cricket League

Division One

Sudbrook 1sts (260-7) lost to Abergavenny 1sts (317-5) by 57 runs

SUDBROOK Firsts began their double-header weekend with a number of key players unavailable and paid the price with a home defeat to Abergavenny on Saturday, writes Bob Cypher.

After the visitors won the toss their captain Geraint Leach elected to bat first on a flat pitch with a fast outfield.

Will Glenn and Morgan Bevans put Sudbrook to the sword, Glenn on 85 when Bevans departed for 71 in a stand of 165.

Glenn continued to make 115 which included 13 boundaries and a maximum.

He was caught by Scott O’Leary off Dean Wallace’s bowling after being joined at the crease by Lewis Holley.

The home side suffered a setback when opening bowler Jon Lewis had to be taken out of the attack for infringing the new rule outlawing head-high deliveries, and with regular opening bowler Mitchell Slape unavailable, skipper Jamie Watkins had fewer options to call on.

Holley made 67 before being stumped by Ross Lewis off O’Leary and Wallace sent Dan Cooke back to the pavilion after he had made just two runs.

Watkins brought Darren Lloyd and Ian Simmonds into the attack, Simmonds removing Adam Harrison (13) thanks to a fine catch on the boundary by Matt Spencer.

Despite the successes, Sudbrook were unable to stop the visitors posting an imposing 317 total.

In reply, Sudbrook lost early wickets to the bowling of David Clarke and Adam Harrison before Scott O’Leary (66) and Matthew Burton, with an excellent 75 not out, gave the home fans a glimmer of hope.

Those hopes faded as Geraint Leach took three wickets to end Sudbrook’s resistance.

In the second of the weekend’s double header, Sudbrook lost at Pontypridd by two wickets.

Pontypridd made 154-8 but Sudbrook’s run-chase ended on 151 all out.