SOUTH EAST WALES CRICKET LEAGUE

BRECON Cricket Club’s 1st team encountered a disappointing setback on Saturday when they went down to a three-wicket reverse against Pontypridd 1st team.

Posting 108 batting first was always going to be difficult to defend for Brecon and this proved the case in what was ulitimately a very much below-par batting performance.

The Pontypridd reply too struggled in response and wickets fell regularly with the Brecon bowlers giving a good account of themselves to keep the visitors in contention. However a couple of spilled chances did not help the cause and Ponty crossed the winning line with 13 overs remaining. For Brecon the main wicket taker was John Kenchington with 4-21. Whilst conditions did not make batting easy this was a disappointing performance with the bat when perhaps another 20 runs could have made the difference but next week at home to Croesyceilog it must be hoped the early season troubles with the bat can be overcome.

¦ The second team at home to Dinas Powys, in a game sponsored by B Jenkins and Sons, Timber and Builders Merchants, put in another powerful performance when batting first and totalled 216-5 built around a mammoth stand of 117 between Steve Kenchington, with yet another outstanding innings of 90no, and Dan Marshall of 40, both producing powerful hitting.

The pair built rapidly on a steady opening stand of 55 between Mark Waldeck (13) and Gwyn Price (23) which had been aided by some occasional wayward early bowling by the visitors.

The Dinas innings started solidly with a partnership of 30 before Ryan Morgan struck with two quick wickets and then Dan Marshall bowled a good solid spell to take 1-13, his wicket coming from an outstanding one handed caught and bowled. It was however the introduction of Rob Hudman to the bowling crease that put an end to the Dinas challenge as he put in a devastating shift taking 5-15 to destroy their hopes.

Tom Witcombe and Andrew Kinsey then cleared up the batting line-up with a wicket each to complete another victory.

Next week it’s down to Monkswood where hopefully the early season success can be continued.