MONMOUTH clinched the Forest of Dean Hundred Cricket League Championship with a 64-run win against Lydney in the final. Ben Pilot’s side carried off the trophy for the first time on a hot afternoon at Monmouth Sports Ground.
Ruardean Hill also won silverware, storming to 10-wicket victory against Goodrich in the Plate competition, which kicked off Sunday’s action-packed 100-ball finals day. In the Championship final, Monmouth opener Adam Roberts, who hammered 55 runs from 35 balls, and late fireworks from Harry Desroy (43 from 17 balls) propelled the host to 161-7 from their 100 deliveries.
Lydney’s Tom Morris bowled impressively, particularly in the closing stages of Monmouth’s innings, finishing with 4-31 from four sets.Skipper Pilot (18 not out), Ben Davies (13) and Ben Lander (12) all chipped in for Monmouth, while Lydney captain Matt Aldridge held a catch and made a stumping and Sureshkumar Velayudham also took a catch.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Monmouth looked well set at 78-2 from 50 balls. But Lydney fought back well in the field before the destructive Desroy, who plundered five sixes and two fours, lifted the hosts to an above-par total. Callum Miller (1-23 from four) and Ben Ferguson (1-27 from four) both delivered tidy sets for Lydney,
In reply, Lydney’s Australian ace Ferguson (44 from 28 balls) kept the Forest of Dean club in contention with a classy knock. Lander held a steepling catch to put Monmouth, sponsored by Bürkert Fluid Control Systems, in the ascendancy. The dangerous Ferguson was adjudged lbw to spinner Davies (3-25 from four sets), to leave Lydney at 65-5 after 49 deliveries.
Despite resistance from Ellis Boughton (16) and Nathan Jones (11 not out), Monmouth’s Gareth Jones snapped up 3-9, including the last two wickets in successive deliveries, and Lydney were dismissed for 97 in 75 balls.
Player-of-the-match Roberts picked up 2-37 from four sets and was backed up by Jared Janes (1-10) and Pilot (1-16 from three sets). Sam Uttley, Desroy and wicketkeeper Rhydian James all held catches for Monmouth, who finished runners-up to Cinderford St John’s in last year’s final. Meanwhile, Ruardean Hill lifted the Plate trophy after an emphatic 10-wicket win against Goodrich in the first final of the afternoon. After winning the toss and batting first, Goodrich struggled against accurate bowling from Ruardean and were dismissed for 89 from 95 balls. Jack Lewis (22), Harry Porter (13) and Simon Sharpe (12) reached double figures for the Herefordshire villagers. But Zac White (3-16 from four sets), Harry Thomas (2-9 from three), Adam Cole (2-10 from three) and Sam Skelton (2-15 from four) all shone for Ruardean. Skelton, Cole and Freddie Gwilliam took catches as Goodrich slipped to 18-3 and then 31-5 as Ruardean’s bowlers and fielders applied pressure throughout.
In pursuit of Goodrich’s modest total, Aaron Underwood (49 not out from 31 balls) batted with skill, dispatching eight fours and a six. In fact, the prolific Underwood finished as the league’s leading run-maker this season. Underwood was ably assisted by Skelton, who struck an unbeaten 33 from 30 balls, containing five boundaries, and Ruardean raced to their target without loss in just 61 deliveries. Neil Price (0-11 from four sets) was Goodrich’s most accurate bowler, but Ruardean Hill were outstanding on the day and deservedly won the Plate competition.
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