South East Wales Cricket League Division One - Pontypridd (95 all out) lost to Chepstow First XI (270-5) by 175 runs

CHEPSTOW Firsts proved far too hot for hosts Pontypridd, bowling them out cheaply after setting them a tough target.

Chepstow skipper Jason Dobbie won the toss and decided his men would bat first, opener Gareth Ansell and Ryan Scrivens sharing in a century partnership before Scrivens departed having made 45.

Ansell continued to his century and when joined by Dave Bennett, the pair continued the onslaught on Pontypridd’s bowlers.

When Anselll departed Bennett carried his bat despite the loss of two partners to finish 87 not out and set Pontypridd a target of 271 runs to win.

Right from the start of the Chepstow reply, Dobbie and his bowlers were on fire.

Dobbie bowled opening batsman Gregor McKain for a duck and then caught and bowled his replacement Josh Waughington for a second duck and Pontypridd were reeling at 0-2.

Dobbie trapped the other opener Ali Saeed lbw for 17 and Luke Watson claimed his first victim, Ryan Williams (4).

Bowling honours were shared between Watson and Lewys Jones as only home team batsmen Tim Foden (22) and Thomas Vaal (24) made significant contributions.

Watson ended with bowling figures of 4-30 with two maidens in his 10 overs and Jones took three wickets for eight runs in four overs with one maiden included.

Dobbie’s figures were 3-14 and six maidens in his 10 overs.

Later, Chepstow all-rounder Malith Madurasinghe described the performance as “solid”.

“Gareth and Ryan’s century opening partnership laid the foundations for Gareth to kick on to a well deserved century,” he said.

“Dave Bennett added the acceleration needed and the skipper and Luke bowled very well to reduce Pontypridd to 28-7 and they never recovered.”

Bob Cypher