Brecon’s 1st XI travelled to Blaina, lost the toss, and were made to bowl on yet another scorching day. Last week they wrapped things up quickly; this time things would be different, writes Dan Gee.

A pair of wickets for Sam Williams, who ended with four to his name, arrested a poor start to leave the home team at 50-2, but then the struggle began. A sparkling 183-run partnership formed and gave Blaina control. Part-time off-spinner Rhys Pritchard eventually removed Selway for 115, and some tight bowling from Kieron Marmion, Ed Bevan and Ceitho Williams gave Brecon some much-needed momentum going into their reply. Blaina ended on 280-7, having perhaps eyed 300 earlier in the innings.

In-form openers Rowan Starkey and James Davenport started with aplomb, before the former fell for 15. Marmion looked in ominous form only to also depart for 15. Pritchard’s story was similar, exiting the scene for 26 after trying one shot too many. A rare failure for Himal Saud, and an arguably more familiar one for Andy MacDonald, left Brecon teetering but still up with the rate. Having recovered from serious illness in the week and weighed down by the size of the chase, the excellent Davenport eventually fell for a well-made 81, and the odds on Brecon began to lengthen.

There were starts for Ceitho and Sam Williams (no relation) and Chris Davenport, but the real star of the show was Extras. It takes some doing to bowl 70 wides in a test match, so to do it in a 45-over game really is special.

Brecon were always in it, but always behind. Extras tried its best with a top score of 85, but the visitors fell 17 runs short with three overs to spare.

The 2nd XI are still missing their regular skipper John Kenchington, and with Ben Kenchington announcing his retirement, Derek Osborne took on the poisoned chalice, playing hosts to Blaengarw and Coedly. His first move was to confuse the visitors by bowling first in the heat.

Tom Marshall, who ended with two wickets, bowled with control and aggression before sending down an innovative leg side full toss to remove the dangerous James Long.

Veteran campaigner Huw Griffiths bowled well without reward, and Dan Marshall was thankful to the youthful Gwyn Price for the snaffling of the away team’s opener.

But the star of the show was Rayhan Uddin. Having already executed a run-out, he decided to dismantle the rest of the batting lineup. His figures of 5 for 38 were just reward for some excellent seam-up bowling. Significantly, Brecon caught better than usual, and in doing so, contained B&C to a less-than-par 134, with Dan Witcomb taking the final wicket.

Uddin, promoted to open so he could get to work in time, fell for 17, and Dan Bowen departed for 20. Still, it was all plain sailing, mainly thanks to the flowing bat of Witcomb. Backed up by a bludgeoning innings of 34 from 15 balls by Griffiths, Witcomb hit a four to win it, and in doing so reached the unbeaten milestone of 53. An excellent and much-needed seven-wicket win.