South Wales Cricket League

Newport failed narrowly in their bid to win at Abergavenny on Saturday in the Premier Division of the Thomas, Carroll South Wales Cricket League.

Struggling Abergavenny posted a score of 227-6 in 55 overs with Greg Paulsen making 46, Matthew Hall 40 and Craig Barnsley 42 not out. Ryan Watkins was the best of the Newport attack with 3-69.

Newport's chances of reaching the target were restricted by a fine spell of 1-29 in 15 overs by Barnsley and, although Mike Clayden got 37, David Teague 40 and Micky Martin was not out 48 at the close, they ended up eight runs short and had to settle for a draw. Lee Fury took 3-46 for Abergavenny.

Sudbrook's game at Pontypridd was cancelled because the Ynysangharad Park pitch was unfit so they are still one of just four unbeaten sides in the league but Usk slipped nearer the relegation zone after a heavy defeat by title contenders St Fagans at Crofft-y-Genau Road.

Glamorgan batsman and Newport product Ian Thomas was in sparkling form for the Saints as he blasted a superb 92 to take them to 131-1 but some fine bowling by Mike Kear (3-40), Kanal Khanna (2-55) and Kallin Davies (2-25) saw them stutter and they finished on 206-9.

It was a reachable target as Usk cruised to 83-1 with Mark Tamplin (51) and Khanna (28) adding 69 for the second wicket but once they departed, it all fell apart to the bowling of Owain Hopkins who took 4-18 in 9.1 overs and Rob Franklin who finished with 4-29 off 11 and Usk slumped to 104 all out.

Bottom club Miskin Manor drew with Cardiff but should have won as they reached 182-6 chasing 202 for victory but they lost vital wickets and ended up 185-9. Bridgend grabbbed a lifeline by winning their basement battle with Ponthir at Newbridge Fields by two wickets.

Ponthir made 179-6 with Hugh Simkiss (64 n.o) the major contributor while Phil Bradbury got 25 and Phil North 23 as Alan Dodd took 3-35 in 15 overs and Martin Evans 2-47 off 15.

Bridgend made it thanks to Grant Humphries (46), Peter Stanton (39) but the telling contribution was a late blast of 36 not out off 24 balls by Anthony Griffiths. Mike Holcombe took 4-85, Paul Watkins 2-39 off 15 overs and North 1-36 but the defeat plunges Ponthir into the relegation dog fight.

Chepstow strengthened their grip on second place with a last ball victory over Hoovers but it was a close run thing and a marvellous game of cricket. Mark Walton made a terrific 93 in the Hoovers' innings of 237-8 which included three fours and six sixes and 14 year old Blayne Harris got 42. Justin Thornhill was the pick of the Chepstow bowling with 3-40 in 10 overs.

Rob Moore (57) and Paul Bennett (78) opened with a stand of 134 but progress slowed up after their departure and Chepstow still needed 74 off the last 10 overs.

Steve Evans got 25 and Dan Wilde was 36 not out at the finish but seven runs were required off the last over to win and that moved on to seven off the last two balls.

Cometh the hour and cometh the Chepstow hero in the shape of Rob Hopkins who hit the penultimate ball for one of the biggest sixes ever seen at the ground leaving him and Wilde to scurry the winning single off the final delivery.

Panteg's promotion prospects were dented by visitors Llanarth who scored a modest 158-9 when they batted first with Shaheed getting 45 and Ian Worrad taking 5-47 for Panteg.

But Panteg struggled for runs despite a battling 54 by Brian Murgatroyd and 39 by James Williams and accurate bowling by Malik (4-48) and Chris Powell (3-30) saw them limp to 142-9 in their reply.

Pontymister remain on top of Division Two after a close 11 run win over Porth & Ton Pentre.

Once again former Llanwern batsman Actar Baloch held their innings together with 40 and Amin Khan also hit 40 but the total of 169-8 looked vulnerable. Brian Morgan made 36 in the Rhondda side's reply but Asif took 3-51 in 15 overs and Gareth Tovey 3-24 and the last wicket fell at 158.

Ebbw Vale's chances of promotion weren't helped as they lost at bottom club Barry. Matthew Telling took 4-30 and Lewis James 3-38 in the Barry total of 168 all out which was due in no small measure to an eighth wicket partnership of 57 by Billy Uswold (35) and Doug Curtin (31).

Jamie Narcarrow anchored the Vale reply but his 30 not out and 25 by Andrew Morgan were the only significant contributions as Vale slumped to 90 all out as Stephen R Jones got 5-51 and Uswold 3-2 at the end.

Another side to beat a higher placed team was Blackwood who accounted for Malpas by 29 runs in a game which highlighted the old adage of "catches win matches".

Matthew Reynolds made 29, Andrew Shelton 35 and Adam Lusardi 29 in the Blackwood score of 158-8. Roger Panting took 3-46 for Malpas.

Malpas were well on their way to winning at 80-1 but wicket keeper Duncan Smith took three catches and Lusardi also had three brilliant catches and they were all out for 129.

Mark Collins scored 33 and Paul Hicks 20 as Carl Gwilt took 2-35, skipper Neil Reardon 3-25 and 16 year old leg spinner Jason Grubb 3-29 off 12 overs.

Ian Phillips enjoyed a remarkable day for Cefn Fforest who beat Cross Keys by seven wickets.

First he bowled magnificently to take 7-20 in 15 overs in the Keys total of 125-9 in which Mark Baker made 30 not out.

Then he led the Fforest reply with a blistering 54 not out and with Andrew Royall getting 27 and Gareth Bisp 22 not out, it was all over in just 30 overs.

Alister Craig's fine 61 for Newbridge wasn't enough to prevent visitors Croesyceiliog taking the spoils by seven wickets and they moved above Ebbw Vale in the table as a result.

Panteg lost their unbeaten record at Usk in the Premier Division Second XI league. They reached 206-7 with Kyel Hazard making 95 and Mark Davies 27 as Tony Kear took 3-47 off 15 overs and Dominic Rees 2-44 off 15.

David Wilson made 48 in the Usk reply, Dan Wilde got 50 and Rees was 35 not out at the end as Usk made it with four wickets in hand. Panteg stay top of the table but Usk closed the gap significantly on them.

Miskin Manor beat Cardiff and Newport eased away from the relegation zone by accounting for Abergavenny at Spytty Park.

Doug Kershaw scored 44 in Newport's 150 all out with Gareth Corfield taking 3-25 and Andy Timpson 3-33 for the visitors.

Ryland Wallace looked capable of winning the game for Abergavenny until he damaged a hamstring and retired hurt. He returned later and was 31 not out at the end but by that time Richard Coombs (7-40) and Alistair Ashworth (3-11) had the game won for Newport. Chepstow lost heavily at Pentyrch.

Ebbw Vale lost to Bridgend in the Division One Second XI league by 32 runs.

Steve Durston made a sparkling 61 for Newport Fugitives as won by 43 runs against Radyr.

Porth & Ton Pentre easily overcame Pontymister to retain their unbeaten record at the top of the Division Two Second XI league and Croesyceiliog moved up to second place after beating Newbidge.

Cross Keys accounted for Cefn Fforest by seven wickets, Hoovers beat Blackwood by eight wickets and Ponthir crushed Barry by nine wickets in a match over by tea.