SUDBROOK CC skipper Ross Lewis carried his bat to post an impressive 145 not out to help beat visitors Malpas CC by 82 runs at Mill Lane on Saturday.

Lewis might easily have managed a higher total had his rhythm not been broken by the loss of partners along the way.

Despite this, he shared in useful partnerships with Matt Kinchin (45) and Lewis Morgan (25) to set Malpas a target of 261 with the loss of seven wickets.

In reply, Malpas quickly dropped behind the asking rate although Sudbrook’s opening bowlers were having little luck until Lewis brought on Rob Thorn and James Hussey.

Thorn took two wickets for 23 runs in his six overs, and Hussey also took two for 23 in nine overs as the pair removed the visitors’ top order.

“We bowled straighter when Rob and James came on,” Lewis explained.

“Once Malpas lost their top order batsmen, they were never really in it and dropped further below the required rate.

“All in all, I thought it was a good display by the boys and it has given us a good platform and the confidence to have a good season.”

Meanwhile, the Seconds lost at Welsh Asians who restricted the visitors to 165-9.

Tom McLean top-scored with 40 while Martin Norton contributed 29 from 27 deliveries and Greg Shaw added 21.

Welsh Asians reached 166-4 with four of their allotted overs remaining as Sudbrook bowlers Gary Morgan took 2-14. Nathan Thomas and Scott O’Leary took the other wickets.

Chepstow CC 1sts lost by one wicket at Newbridge CC 1sts.

Newbridge won the toss and asked Chepstow to bat, opener Carwyn James top-scoring with 52.

Partner Dave Teague made 23 but apart from Jamie Rayner (20) there were few other notable scores with only Jon Roberts and Alyn Franklin reaching double figures.

Chepstow posted 141-9 in their innings, Newbridge reaching their target for the loss of nine wickets.

Thomas Watkins (38), Elliot Jenkins and Gael Jones (23 each) were the main run scorers while Paul Swingwood (3-29 from seven overs) and skipper Jason Dobbie (2-24 from nine) did the most damage.

Meanwhile, on a damp Mathern Road pitch, Chepstow Seconds won the toss and asked Newbridge Seconds to bat, restricting them to 154-7.

“Youngsters Luca Goddard and Lewys Jones bowled well without much luck,” said skipper Huw Rogers.

“But in the chase, John Griffith (21) and Scott Bailey (36) got us off to a great start before Tuhin Gavand (39no) and Benedict Tindall (21no) saw us home with 10 overs to spare.”

Saturday (May 16th) fixtures: Chepstow 1sts home to Usk 1sts, 2nds away to Usk; Sudbrook 1sts away to Croesyceiliog, 2nds home to Lisvane, all 12.30pm start.