A LOWER order rescue act was not enough to help Abergavenny to set a big enough target against Blackwood on Saturday as the visitors picked up a deserved five wicket win at Avenue Road.

After losing the toss and being asked to bat first Aber made a disastrous start, losing their first five wickets for just 33 runs inside the opening 10 overs. Dan Wilkinson and Bobby Matthews made full use of the helpful conditions, mixing their lengths and movement intelligently as Gavin Heritage (1) and James Schofield (10) were caught behind, and Lewis Parfitt (4), Lewis Holley (4) and Richie Roberts (3) were bowled.

Dan Cooke and Ali Buhkari built the first meaningful partnership of the innings as they put on 34 runs. Unfortunately, Cooke was unsettled by a stumping claim off a dead ball and was bowled by Neil Reardon off the very next delivery. Asim Gillani joined Bukhari and the pair set about trying to take Aber to a competitive total, mixing good defence with some aggressive attacking shots, with each striking a huge straight six apiece. With the score on 124, Gillani was bowled by Wilkinson for 23, just as he seemed as though he might be able to help Bukhari take the score beyond 150.

Nevertheless, Matt Davies was defiant in defence as he kept Bukhari company, and although he only made two runs, allowed Bukhari to take the score to 145 before Davies hit a full toss straight to short cover.

Bukhari passed his first 50 of the season as he opened his shoulders with just two wickets left, before being caught at long on, perhaps unnecessarily, for 61. With just one wicket to go, Aber were on 163, but Matt Knight and WIll Ford frustrated the visitors with a super partnership of 33 for the final wicket with some lovely shots and good running.

Aber finished on 196 all out off 40 overs, well below what they would have hoped for, but nevertheless beyond what they could have reasonably expected having been 33-5. For Blackwood, Matthews finished with five wickets, and Wilkinson three.

Blackwood made a solid start in reply with Gareth Berry and Simon Davies adding 28 for the first wicket before Berry played on to Parfitt. Andrew Clark followed soon after, LBW to Cooke. After a partnership of 33 took Blackwood to 64, Callum Herring was trapped LBW to Ford for 12.

The game was intriguingly poised and if Aber could continue to pick up wickets they could put Blackwood under pressure. Unfortunately, Davies was dropped at long off with the score in the eighties, and dropped catches would be a recurring theme in the second part of the innings, as they put down seven offerings.

With Wilkinson looking assured on his way to 43, the fourth wicket swung the match heavily in Blackwood's favour as the score advanced to 150 from 39 overs before Wilkinson was well caught by Knight off Ford. With Cooke bowling Joe Roberts in the next over, Aber rekindled their hopes of victory. However, despite slashing one just past point from his first ball, Rhod Evans made a very brisk 31 not out to help Davies (62 not out) take Blackwood to a comfortable victory with four overs to spare.

Abergavennt will rue such a poor start to their innings and their profligacy in the field as they suffered their third defeat of the season. After some soul searching in the dressing room after the game, the players will be desperate to get back to winning ways as soon as possible and will be even more determined to bounce back next week as they travel to play local rivals Usk.