Jones Knock Steers Monmouth To Comfortable Victory   You are here: Home » News Detail

Monmouth Cricket Club

Teenage opener Matthew Jones carried his bat for 81 in Monmouth Cricket Club’s crushing 135-run home win over Dinas Powys in the Thomas, Carroll Glamorgan and Monmouthshire League Division Three.

Paul Swingwood’s third-placed team picked up a maximum 20-point haul in a match which started at 3.30pm and was reduced to 30 overs-a-side owing to rain.

It was the only match which survived the wash-out in the entire Glamorgan and Monmouthshire League.

And the fact the game was played was testament to the herculean efforts from groundsman Gordon Grey, vice-captain Dan Risk and Richard Shaw.

The trio worked tirelessly on the pitch and outfield on Saturday morning after the deluge during the previous 24 hours had saturated the ground.

The club’s new Bowcow Bowdry water clearance machine, bought with SWALEC Development Fund support, collected two full tanks of standing water from the square and made play possible.

When the action finally got under way after a two-and-a-half hour delay, Jones hit six fours in his 77-ball knock and provided the backbone of Monmouth’s 228-4 from 30 overs after the hosts had been put in to bat.

Ben Turner had got Monmouth’s innings off to a rip-roaring start, blasting six fours in his breezy 31 from just 18 balls before Josh Grey and Jones continued the run-blitz.

Grey cracked 67 from 49 balls, containing six fours and two sixes, and shared a 110-run stand for the second wicket with Jones.

Tom Vickers made 10 before skipper Swingwood helped lift Monmouth to their final tally with an unbeaten 30.

After the interval, Monmouth, sponsored by JD Wetherspoon, soon had Dinas Powys’ batsmen on the ropes and the visitors were eventually dismissed for 93 in 29.1 overs.

Risk (3-11) and Swingwood (3-18) were Monmouth’s most successful bowlers, while Jonathan Roberts (2-12) and Andy Bowley (2-29) also chipped in.

There were fine catches taken by Richard Shaw (2), Matthew Jones, Callum Philpott and Swingwood.

Matthew Jones was handed the Ancre Hill Vineyard man of the match award but promptly gave the bottle to wine to his dad John and mum Lauretta.