THE Beavers entertained Colwall fourths at Crickhowell on the weekend, and considering all the poor weather during the week, the wicket looked in great order, prompting skipper Winstanley to bat first after winning the toss.

The Holley boys got the home side off to yet another solid start with a partnership of 47 in 11 overs, before Nathan was caught behind for 17.

The heavens then opened, causing a brief delay, before the Beavers continued their innings. Lewis Holley and Mark Winstanley continued along a decent rate of six an over, before Holley well caught behind off an inside edge for 44. Holley has been enjoying a great season with the bat, having scored over 300 runs.

The Beavers then had a mini collapse as Winstanley went for 22, quickly followed by Pritchard for six, with the score at 102.

John Lamont and Elis Jones then set about repairing the damage, no mean feat for these two who had both had first-ballers the previous week. Lamont got going with a series of boundaries, but not to be out done, Jones started a ferocious attack on the Colwall bowlers. Jones hit a series of fours and sixes, rapidly reaching a fifty, containing just two singles. Lamont then got in on the act, and he too dispatched the Colwall bowlers to the boundary, to reach his own half century. This pair continued to build, and the score soon past 200, then 250, before Jones was caught for 81 with the score at 263.

Jones hit a total of seven sixes and eight fours in his best knock of the season. Lamont continued to flay the Colwall attack, and supported by Obiwan Bradley (27), closed in on a century. The score passed 300, and with overs running out, Lamont smashed a six to reach a deserved century. Lamont was finally out off the last ball for 117, as the Beavers reached 353 for eight, a brilliant recovery from a very tricky situation earlier in the innings.

In reply, Colwall knew they had to score at eight an over, and they set about the Beavers opening attack, hitting Bradley and Ryan Price for a number of fours and sixes. It was left to an excellent bit of fielding from John Lamont at square leg to run out Kelly with the score at 33. Oliver continued his attack on Bradley, and despite three fielders out deep on the leg side, still managed to heave a number of boundaries.

Bradley persevered and eventually broke through, bowling Oliver for a hard hitting 41. Ryan Price picked up another wicket soon after, with a catch for Jordan Banfield. Bradley should have picked up Pykett for 0, but a missed stumping cost the Beavers dear, as he got stuck in the Beavers bowlers, Brothers Gethin and Garin Price got the full treatment from Pykett who hit a series of fours and sixes, although Garin did pick up one wicket, with a smart catch for Nathan Holley.

Winstanley attempted to mix-up the attack bringing on Gwyn Pritchard and Jordan Banfield, and it was this change that saw the next breakthrough as Pritchard picked up a wicket with his brand of flighted filth.

The Beavers continued to pick up wickets, with one each for Pritchard and Ryan Price, but Pykett was proving harder to remove. Lewis Holley was brought into the attack, and he too suffered at the hands of Pykett, as Colwall reached 251 for seven in 34 overs.

Skipper Winstanley then decided to bring himself on to bowl, and he struck with his first ball with a caught and bowled, and then bowled Pykett three balls later for a superb 115. Colwall were then all out for 251 in the next over, as Ryan Price caught a skier off the bowling of Bradley.