MONMOUTH Cricket Club will be hosting the final of the prestigious John Macey Shield at the Sports Ground next month.

Thomas Carroll Glamorgan and Monmouthshire Cricket League Division One outfit Croesyceiliog will be meet Division Two table-toppers Pontymister on Sunday 9th August, with the game starting at 3pm.

Croesyceiliog booked their place in the final after defeating Chepstow last Friday, 24 hours after Pontymister had beaten Sudbrook in their last-four tie.

Around 300 people watched the final last season and Monmouth Cricket Club is planning to open the bar and organise a barbecue for the showpiece event.

The annual 20-overs-a-side knockout competition is run by the Monmouthshire Cricket Association and involves the top senior clubs in the region.

Macey Sports, from Newport, has sponsored the competition since 1981 and the Monmouth club is proud to be hosting the final for the first time this century.

Monmouth reached the quarter-final stage of this season's competition after overcoming Ponthir but they slipped to a five-wicket loss in a hard-fought quarter-final against rivals Chepstow.

Croesyceiliog, from Cwmbran, are fifth in the Glamorgan and Monmouthshire League Division One after five wins and four defeats from 11 matches this term.

Thomas Kear (456 runs) and Conor Miles (440 runs) are Croesyceiliog's leading run-scorers in the top flight with Ieaun Wakefield and Lewis Pheasant, who have both taken 18 wickets, their leading bowlers.

Risca outfit Pontymister, who top the Division Two table after eight wins from 11 matches, should provide the higher-graded club will a stern test.

All-rounder Adran Ghori has scored 599 runs from 11 innings this season and taken 19 wickets at an average of 13.05 in the league.

Pontymister's leading bowler this summer is Amanullah Armani who has snapped up 26 wickets at a cost of 11.85.