CHEPSTOW Cricket Club’s First XI failed to capitalise on leaders Newbridge’s slip-up at Malpas when they lost at Brecon.
The second league defeat inflicted by the Division One newcomers came despite Chepstow bowler Rizan Mansoor taking 5-40.
In a match that Malith Madurasinghe admitted was lacklustre, Chepstow’s failure to hold catches proved vital.
“We were lacklustre in the field and dropped too many catches,” he said.
“We fought back well towards the end of the innings to take the last six wickets for only 12 runs with Rizan taking five wickets and 17-year-old Sam Hope-Bell taking 3-20.”
Lewys Jones was Chepstow’s only other wicket-taker with 2-47.
In reply, skipper Gareth Ansell (23) and Dave Bennett (28) both made starts and Sam Hope-Bell enhanced his growing reputation with 39 runs but only one other Chepstow batsman – Madurasinghe – managed a double-figure contribution.
“At 36-4, we were up against it” Madurasinghe added.
Despite removing Brecon’s opener cheaply, Greg Webber (46), Richard Lovering (31), Keiran Marmian (42) and Iain Mitchell (28) rallied the innings and although Brecon lost their last five wickets for a total of 10 runs, the main damage had been done.
Bob Cypher