Crickhowell CC 1sts 148-10 Builth CC 1sts 288-7 .

FOR the second week in succession, Crickhowell were soundly beaten at home, this time by Builth by 140 runs.

The Crickhowell squad has been affected by injury and illness all season, and this week it was the bowlers that were again thin on the ground with only three frontline regulars available.

With skipper Nick Francis therefore having to shuffle himself, Ben Bowker and Phill Bowker around, and call on the part time services of Tew, Cornock and Lilley, improving Builth took advantage to build another big score.

Gallen [38] and Powell [94] batted well at the outset to lay a firm foundation for Cook [17] and Williams [45] to build on in the middle order.

With Nick Francis [3 for 51] finally picking up Gallen, Williams and later Corzon and Phill Bowker [2 for 54] bowling Cook and Fuller, there was some respite, before Anderson [25 not out] and Williams [24 not out] ensured that Builth finished on a challenging total of 288 in their 45 overs.

Crickhowell’s reply could not have been any worse, with the in-form Parker misjudging the very first ball of the innings only to see his off stump removed by Williams.

Tew then went for a duck in the fifth over and it was left to Lilley [52] and Kinman [20] to dig in. When Kinman was well caught by Cook off Laurie, Cornock [40] joined Lilley to continue the rebuilding operation and at 87 for three in just the 18 over, Crickhowell seemed to be well placed.

Then some poor luck, poor shot selection and a few bizarre decisions conspired to see Crickhowell fall dramatically away to finish on 148 all out.

Big hitting Cornock, playing a sensible innings for once hit the ball in the air, and was caught in the deep off Laurie who finished with 4 for 34. Lilley then decided to pull across the line and was bowled by Williams.

The dangerous Francis was then given out LBW after a half-hearted appeal and the normally reliable Wallace decided to give a bit of catching practice to Anderson at square leg.

Ben Bowker and Callum Tew, with any chance of victory long gone, batted sensibly edging towards a few more batting bonus points, before the innings ended in disarray and in some controversy, with Ben Bowker being adjudged out LBW.

Fuller finished with 3 for 46 and Williams 3 for 68 to see Builth through to maximum points of 25 with Crickhowell only picking up four.

Remarkably Crickhowell are still clinging on to third place in the league with Woolhope and Kington, who Crickhowell play this week, breathing down their neck.

With Goodrich beating Garnons last week, Builth also remain in seventh place but can look forward to facing the in-form Goodrich side, at home, this week.