HAVING beat local rivals Croesyceiliog, Usk entertained Cardiff last Thursday night, knowing that victory would secure their place in the league final.

With this rearranged fixture starting so late, the contest became a 15 overs per side affair. Cardiff batted first and got off to a solid, if unspectacular start as they compiled 51-2 from their opening eight overs.

However, by the end of the tenth over, their score read 60-6. A sudden loss of wickets to Richie Rees and Ollie James had torn the heart out of the visitor's batting.

With so few wickets to play with and virtually no platform from which to launch. Cardiff limped up to 88 all out.

Usk's reply got off to a vigilant start as Ian Clayton and Owen Watkins looked to play sensibly rather than blast out of the blocks.

Watkins then fell to a brilliant one-handed, diving catch by Jenkins, and with Matt Birrell going first ball, Usk looked as if they could make heavy weather of such a low target.

Clayton (28) and Ollie James (45*) firstly steadied the ship, before Seb Warwick came to join James at the crease to guide Usk home with seven wickets and 11 balls to spare.

Returning to league action on Saturday, the visitors from Sudbrook won the toss and elected to field on a bright, clear day in South Wales.

However, it was the hosts who made a brighter start to the game as Ollie James (57) and Matt Birrell (21) posted 47 for the first wicket in the opening 17 overs.

With the top order accumulating methodically, Usk worked themselves into a decent position, reaching 120-3 after 35 overs.

The platform had been laid, and Owen Watkins (51) was just the man to take advantage of the situation.

Smashing his half century off only 19 balls, Watkins took the game by the scruff of the neck, unfortunately for Usk nobody else did likewise, and the hosts found themselves all out in the 47th over for 201; 20-30 runs light of where they expected to be.

For Sudbrook, Chris Ashling finished with the impressive figures of 8.5-3-18-4.

With 53 overs to reach their target, Sudbrook must have fancied their chances, especially when they found themselves at 129-2 in the 35th over, and Lane well set.

However, Usk's bowlers began to chip away at the Sudbrook middle order. Besides Lane who scored 100, only two other Sudbrook batmen reached double figures, and as the runs began to dry up Usk sensed their opportunity.

With 31 required from the final four overs and only two wickets in hand, the visitors decided to bat out for the draw, and Usk had to make do with a winning draw. Huw Waters was the pick of Usk's bowlers, with figures of 10-1-29-3.

On Sunday, Usk returned to Twenty20 action in the league finals day. Usk's semi-final's opponents Penarth batted first and took Usk's bowlers apart as they stormed to 178-4 from their allocated overs.

Skipper Tom Robinson was the only bowler to pick up wickets, as he bagged a brace; the other wickets falling to run outs.

It was felt that a target of 179 may just be too much to ask of Usk; however Matt Birrell had other ideas. Birrell (85) and Ian Clayton (36) put on 122 for the first wicket in the opening nine overs.

With all the top order doing their bit, it was left to Mark Tampin (20*) to smash the winning six, as Usk coasted home with seven wickets and 5.2 overs to spare.

With Sully beating Blackwood in the other semi, it meant that it would be between Usk and Sully to make the area final, to be held in Usk on August 30

Usk batted first, and again Birrell (73) and Clayton (31) took it to the opposition as they put on 97 for the first wicket in the opening 10 overs.

With nobody else getting going, Usk rather tamely limped from this whirlwind start to 148-7 from their allocated overs.

Unfortunately, this proved little problem to Sully, as openers Ryan Sylvester (59*) and Lloyd Smith (81) almost did the job on their own; Phil Stevens grabbing Usk's solitary wicket.

Next week sees Usk return to normality, as the first team (currently second in the league) travel to league leaders Cardiff in a crucial game. Meanwhile the second teams of both will be doing battle back at the Athletic Club Ground; play in both matches begins at 1pm. On Sunday, an Usk friendly XI will be taking on a Chas Powell XI; play to begin at 2pm. NB on Wednesday, the Athletic Club will be hosting a Glamorgan Nomads v Free Foresters; match to begin at 1:30pm.