BRECON Cricket Club’s 1st team put in another excellent performance away at Chepstow on Saturday to record a convincing 94-run victory.

Meanwhile at home the 2nd team went down to the narrowest possible of defeats by one run against Cardiff Gym in a game sponsored by Andrew Kinsey Electrical.

At Chepstow the 1st team batted first and the opening pair of Matt Williams (43) and James Davenport (40) put on 100 to ensure a wonderful foundation for the innings on a wicket which always offered assistance to the bowlers. Greg Webber (55) then carried the innings forward with his usual energy despite the continual loss of wickets at the other end, and then a late flourish from Sam Williams (19) enabled the posting of 197 all out.

The strong Chepstow batting line-up struggled from the start as the Brecon bowlers went to work and they were shot out for 103. Sam Williams once again recorded fine figures taking 4-25, however it was that old master of seam and swing John Kenchington with 5-25 then ensured victory for Brecon. James Mitchell was the other wicket taker with 1-30.

In Brecon it all came down to the last ball of the game for the 2nd team against Cardiff Gym with three runs needed and Brecon’s last pair at the wicket. Gethin Phillips facing hit the ball into the deep but a good bit of fielding prevented the boundary and it was all about how many the pair of Phillips and captain John Cooke, hampered by an achilles tendon injury, could run. It was however not to be with Cooke run out gamely going for the second run with the tied match still in the offering.

Cardiff Gym had earlier posted 151 having been restricted by excellent bowling from John Cooke (3-18), Rob Hudman (2-22), Steve Kenchington (2-41) and Ryan Morgan and Derek Osborne with one each and one run out. In reply Brecon lost a quick wicket and Brian Skinner and Mark Waldeck (26) dug in against good bowling. The needed impetous to the innings was given by Gethin Phillips (44no) with good support coming from Rob Hudman, Sean Waldeck and John Cooke to ultimately only just to fall short.

Next Saturday the 1st team are at home to Pentyrch, 12.30 start, and the 2nd team are away to Radyr 2nd team.