After two difficult weeks Abergavenny desperately needed to find their form to stay in contention to win their league, but faced a huge challenge in facing league leaders Blackwood.

After winning the toss it was Abergavenny’s bowlers who had first use of a slightly green pitch. Blackwood’s innings got off to a positive start until their opening partnership was broken as the score reached 40.

The Blackwood batsmen found it increasingly difficult to score as the Abergavenny bowlers got into their rhythm.

Each promising partnership was broken before any significant damage had been done and the innings stagnated thanks to tight bowling from Abergavenny’s spinners backed up by an improved fielding display.

The Blackwood tail end felt substantial pressure to score quickly as the innings entered the last 10 overs, but had been left too much to do. The last four wickets fell quickly as Blackwood slumped to 170 all out after 43 overs.

A re-shuffle in the batting order saw Gavin Heritage form an opening partnership with Andrew Jones, who returned from a hamstring injury this week.

Blackwood’s opening bowlers bowled tight lines and put Heritage and Jones under pressure, until the latter fell to an off-cutter that took the off stump with the score on 30.

With that Tamoor Zafar joined Heritage and after a period of consolidation the runs began to flow.

The secondary bowlers were unable to match the accuracy of the openers and Heritage began to look increasingly dominant. Blackwood’s bowlers looked increasingly dejected as both Heritage and Tamoor each smashed their way past 50.

A good crowd had gathered and watched eagerly as Abergavenny flew to the winning target in just 30 overs, with Heritage finishing on 71 not out.

Abergavenny celebrated climbing to second place in the league with a fantastic win and are still in the hunt for the league title with just three crucial games to go.