MONMOUTH Cricket Club’s second XI crashed to a 20-run defeat in a low-scoring game away at Monkswood on Saturday.

Monmouth captain Rick Parkes won the toss and put the home side in to bat.

The decision to do so seemed vindicated as Monkswood found runs difficult to come by, thanks to a strong performance from Monmouth’s bowlers and fielders.

Although wickets were also at a premium, there were breakthroughs for 12 year old Ben Pilot (1-10 from five overs), Luke Bowley (1-11 from eight) and James Taylor (1-22 from eight).

There were sharp catches from Martin Newell (2) and Richard Shaw, while Jon Despontin kept wicket very tidily behind the stumps on an uneven pitch.

Contributions with the ball from Richard Shaw, Aled Jones, Rick Parkes and Martin Newell all went without wickets, but Monkswood were held to an apparently modest 132-3 from their 40 overs.

From the outset however, Monmouth, struggled in reply. Openers Ian Morgan (8), Liam Stubbs (12) and then Taylor (18), Newell (10) and top-scorer Jake Bowley (22) all made starts but were unable to raise the tempo.

Wickets fell throughout the innings on a pitch which offered little assistance to those with the bat as Monmouth fell away and closed on a disappointing 112-9, a result which saw the away side slipping into mid-table as a result of its second consecutive defeat and a poor haul of just two bonus points from the game.

Next Saturday Monmouth’s seconds, sponsored by the Kings Head, Monmouth, will look to return to winning ways when they host Creigau at the Sports Ground at a 1pm start.

Rick Parkes