THE bat dominated the ball in the South East Wales Cricket League apart from at Blackwood as last year’s Division Two champions struggle to find their form, writes Lyn Hall.

They were bowled out for 85, a target Tondu passed with ease with captain Scot Thorton hitting a half century to lead his side to maximum points and an early journey home.

The highest scorers of the day were Llandaff, who amassed 317 runs with Khassan Ilyas and Shiva Mote both hitting centuries as Croesyceiliog bowlers all struggled to stop the flow.

The game was effectively over at the break as Croesy showed little fight as they lost wickets at regular intervals and lost by 200 runs.

At Avenue Road, Abergavenny looked in big trouble with half their team back in the clubhouse with just 68 runs on the board with Charlie Young taking two quick wickets for visiting Malpas.

However, determined batting by young Tom Pipe, who was undefeated on 121, and Sam Clarke saw them put on 114 for the seventh wicket as they moved to 245.

Whilst several Malpas batters got starts, no one could get past the 45 by Ben Tegg and they were dismissed for 170.

Another high scoring was at Sudbrook where regular run scorers Ross Lewis, who was dismissed four short of a ton, and Scott O’Leary were joined by opener Will Supple.

He scored 65 in an opening stand of 162 with Lewis which must have made Panteg regret their decision to insert the home team after winning the toss.

Missing the Reid brothers, Panteg lost 4 for 30 and only a 10th wicket partnership of 65 between Jack Mayers and Chris White gave their score 229 some respectability.

Ebbw Vale hit their highest score of the season at Eugene Cross Park and having hit 232 must have thought they were in with a good chance of recording their first win since returning to the top division.

These hopes were increased as Lisvane lost regular wickets but 39 by Jack Mitchell and a 34 by Oscar Kenyon saw the visitors home by three wickets.

Still missing Carl Whitely, their prolific run scorer, Miskin Manor were grateful to captain Daniel Hay’s 63 as they recovered from 29 for 3 to reach 161 at the close.

Radyr also found runs difficult to get but they reached their target with three wickets remaining to put them third in the table.

In Division Two, Whitchurch Heath continued their good form with a comfortable win at Brecon who were dismissed on 177.

The visitors romped to a six-wicket victory in just 28 overs with Chris Vanos leading the way with a run-a-ball 50.

At Newbridge, a 78-run partnership between Lewes and Elliot Jenkins saw them post a competitive 196 against Newport Fugitives for whom Ali Baxter took 4 for 39 in his allotted overs.

An opening stand of 43 put the Fuggies on their way and an undefeated 73 by captain Nathan Millichip, who spent a season at the Welfare Ground, saw them home by six wickets.

A knock of 144 from Tom Evans and 100 from Michael Provis saw Newport to 386 for 3 at Lisvane which was always beyond the home team who were dismissed for 171.

Rogerstone won the toss at the Island but were left to rue this decision at Barry swept to 285 for 3 with opener Sam Hopkins hitting an undefeated 121. In reply, Roggie were always behind the required rate and were all out for 199.

In the other game in this Division, St Fagans beat the visiting Vale by 26 runs.

Following the most remarkable game of this day and many a day, players from Machen and Crumlin must have woken up on Sunday morning disbelieving what they had been a part off.

Crumlin had bowled out Machen for 198 and then reached 194 for 3 in reply with just three runs required for victory.

Amazingly, they lost a remarkable seven wickets for two runs to leave the home team victors by one run.

At Penarth, Pontymister/Cross Keys built their score of 212 around an 82 by Ali Ajmal but this turned out to be their only good thing of the day as the home team cruised to victory by 10 wickets with Nat Bell hitting an undefeated 121.