In their penultimate game of the season, a depleted Abergavenny side were defeated by seven wickets at Sudbrook.

After winning the toss, James Schofield elected to bat first, and Aber got off to a good start as Alex Astley-Jones and Greg Fury made swift progress against the Sudbrook new ball attack, shorn of their two main seamers.

Astley-Jones played several good shots before falling to an excellent one handed catch by Carl Morgan off his own bowling. Schofield joined Fury and the pair continued well as Fury continued to take the attack to the bowlers.

However, the introduction of spin and cutters changed the game as Lewis Morgan and Jon Lewis found lavish movement off the pitch. Fury eventually fell for 39, stumped as he advanced to a leg spinner that beat his outside edge.

Lewis Holley hung in well for a few overs before overbalancing and being stumped off Lewis. Dan Cooke partnered Schofield well for a time as the pair looked to see off the threat of Morgan and Lewis and take the slightly easier pickings on offer from the off spin of Rhys Pescod.

Eventually Cooke was caught off Lewis as he played fractionally too early in an attempt to hit Lewis over mid on.

James Hrastelj played one sumptuous shot over the top off the leg spinner and hinted at his potential for his return to form as a batsman next season, but fell soon after for four.

James Schofield's long vigil came to an end next ball as he was given out caught at slip for 41. The lower order of Matt Davies, Will Ford, Joe Hrastelj and Colin Knight took Abergavenny to 155-8 from their 50 overs with some good hustled runs and well played shots in the final few overs.

In the circumstances it was pleasing to see the whole batting order making themselves tough to get out and being determined to bat the 50 overs through - something they have not always managed to do this year.

After seeing the nature of the pitch, Aber gambled on opening the bowling with leg spinner Ford in tandem with Joe Hrastelj, and the pair began very well.

However, Ross Lewis and Matt Kincham punished the bad balls as Ford's spell wore on and the conditions nullified the swing Hrastelj normally finds and Schofield had to make a change to try and get a breakthrough.

Cooke was introduced and struck early as Kincham slapped a wide long hop straight to Astley-Jones at cover.

However, Cooke was guilty of some bad balls on a pitch devoid of life and Sudbrook continued to make swift progress towards their target. At the other end, James Hrastelj settled into a nice groove and got his reward when he brought an off cutter back to bowl Ross Lewis for 23. Micky Martin and Lewis Morgan carried on the momentum as Matt Knight and Schofield proved equally unable to stem the flow of runs or make a further breakthrough.

Hrastelj picked up a well deserved second wicket when he had Morgan stumped by Fury for 47. With just a handful of runs needed, that proved to be Abergavenny's last success as Sudbrook closed the game out, reaching their target in the 29th over.

Nevertheless, the effort of the players could not be faulted and the end result simply reflected the difference in quality between the two sides.

Without a full strength side, Aber were never likely to trouble a side who remain unbeaten this season.

However, it was pleasing to see the side trying hard to the end, and putting in a disciplined performance with the bat. Aber will hope to finish the season off well when they travel to Rogerstone next week.