It was an excellent weekend for Usk Cricket Club as both the firsts and seconds beat their counterparts from Pontypridd.
At Ynysangharad Park, Usk captain, Tom Robinson won the toss and elected to bat. This proved a sound decision as the visitors made 255-8 from their 50 overs. Henry Lewis made 86 and Robinson 76. In reply Pontypridd made 220-8 from their 50 overs; John Hughes top scoring for the hosts with 78. A victory for Usk by 35 runs.
Meanwhile at the Athletic Club Ground, Usk won the toss and chose to field. Pontypridd were dismissed for 245 after 45 overs. Jason Cook picked up 4-32, while skipper for the day Julian Smith also weighed in with 3-32. Usk did well to chase down their target, finishing on 249-8 with three overs in hand. Amit Aswani top scored with an unbeaten 96, while Jason Cook (36) and Dominic Rees (36) made solid contributions. A victory by two wickets.
Another celebrating in Usk this weekend was 16-year old Matt Hancock, who made his maiden century (102) in Sunday’s friendly fixture.
Usk will be hoping to take their good form into this weekend’s games. On Saturday, Usk firsts entertain Radyr, (a 50-over game with play beginning at 12:30pm); while the seconds travel to the same opponents (45 overs per side with play commencing at 1pm). On Sunday, Usk play a friendly at Crosskeys. Play starts at 2pm.
Having had good wins in the league and cup the previous week, Crickhowell were looking forward to the visit of Woolhope who they had soundly beaten earlier on in the season.
However, Crickhowell were brought down to earth with a bump and were on the wrong end of a heavy defeat.
The game started much as it had done in the reverse fixture, with skipper Francis winning the toss and inserting Woolhope and Crickhowell taking two quick wickets, but there the similarities ended. Woolhope, instead of capitulating this time, took the Crickhowell attack apart and posted a score of 306.
It was Foster (82) and Tanner (135) who took the score from four for two in the fourth over to 219 for three in the 34th. This was a terrific stand with Tanner hitting 20 boundaries. including 10 sixes. Only Nick Francis (2 for 61) and Phill Bowker (2 for 71) made any inroads to the Woolhope batting, and their wickets came at a price, with all the other bowlers remaining wicketless and going for plenty. With Foster and Tanner removed, it was Watts (44 not out) and O’Hare (34 not out) that insured the Woolhope impetus continued to the end to set a very challenging total.
After tea, Crickhowell made a reasonable start with Parker (22), Lilley (20), Tew (33) and Kerrison (15) all looking at ease before offering a chance, which on every occasion, Woolhope seemed to snap up.
The Woolhope fielding was in stark contrast to Crickhowell’s earlier, which was poor at times and often ragged with several overthrows and missed chances adding to their woes.
With Nick Francis then being well caught trying to play his signature shot through backward point, the lower order then succumbed and Crickhowell’s poor afternoon ended with the side being all out for only 138.
Crickhowell have tended to blow ‘hot and cold’ this season but if one discipline was not firing on all cylinders, then usually the others would offer some balance. However, this was a day when they were well beaten across all departments with poor bowling, shabby fielding and then mediocre batting to follow. Ironically, Crickhowell have managed to hold on to their third spot in the league but are now looking over their shoulder.
With Luctonians and Garnons likely to be first and second Crickhowell will have to show some improvement, in all areas, in their attempt to remain ‘best of the rest’! Next week Crickhowell host Builth in another Powys derby.