South East Wales Cricket League Division One - Sudbrook First XI (241-6) beat Abergavenny (229-8)

Chepstow First XI (171-3) beat Newbridge (170 all out) by seven wickets

SUDBROOK consigned rivals Abergavenny to Division Two although it was close at the end of this penultimate match.

Skipper Micky Martin was delighted by the return to winning ways but modestly declined to mention his part in the victory, making 111 not out.

Martin won the toss and decided to bat as the wicket he chose was used and he had four spin bowlers in the side.

“Tom Mclaren was making his debut for the firsts and he opened with me in the absence of Ross Lewis,” Martin pointed out.

Martin and Mclaren began well and set a run rate of six an over before Mclaren was stumped on 28.

“They took control of the run rate then with some tight bowling and picked up wickets just as new partnerships were starting to build.

“I passed 50 and with 15 overs to go we were nicely placed at 140 for 4 with a few power hitters to come.”

Mark O’Leary then fell to one that stopped in the pitch and Matt Spencer hit a breezy 24 to raise the rate again.

“I was looking at a total around 225 but Scott O’Leary had other ideas and smashed 37 runs in no time,” Martin added.

In reply, Sudbrook’s bowlers started well but didn’t have much luck with a few edges and dropped catches and Abergavenny were well-placed at 60-0 off 10 overs.

Martin again turned to Dean Wallace and Mark O’Leary to take advantage of the spinning conditions.

“Dean got Andrew Jones for 50 which was a game changer and we took control.

Mark bowled a great spell taking 1-20 and Dean 1-25. With 10 overs to go, the required run rate was nine an over.

“Kel Stevens and Scott O’Leary came on and took wickets at the right times Scott ending with 3-64 and Kel 3-46 off eight. This left them 18 short and a well-deserved victory for us.”

Chepstow also enjoyed victory in the league, beating Newbridge by seven wickets.