LAST Saturday was a day to forget for Usk as both the first and second teams lost to their counterparts from Chepstow.

At the Athletic Club Ground, Jason Dobbie won the toss and elected to field. Usk lost early wickets as they struggled up to 44-3. Oliver James (52) then helped add 52 for the fourth wicket before he fell with the score on 96. Only Richie Rees (41*) made any further significant contribution as Usk managed to get up to 176 all out. Both David Monk and Mitchell Harris picked up three wickets apiece for the visitors.

Chepstow’s top order proved a little more solid than Usk’s as Monk (62*) led the way with the bat. Chepstow coasted to their target with six wickets and more than 10 overs to spare. Oliver James picked up two of the wickets to fall.

Meanwhile over at Chepstow, skipper, Arvind Aswani won the toss and decided to field. It was a tough afternoon for the Usk bowlers as all of the Chepstow top order made contributions; the most notable being Zak Watson (90*). The hosts made an impressive 307-6 from their 45 overs. Matt Hancock claimed two wickets for the visitors.

Usk never looked like reaching their target as they were dismissed for 110, of which 33 were extras – the top scorer. Rizan Mansoor picked up three wickets for Chepstow.

This Saturday, Usk firsts travel to Croesyceiliog, (a 50-over game with play beginning at 12:30pm); while the seconds entertain Welsh Asians (45 overs per side with play commencing at 1pm).

It was a perfect day for cricket as Llanarth hosted Cardiff at an LCG that looked full of runs, both captains were desperate to win the toss to have first dig and the visiting skipper called correctly. A couple of early fours fizzed to the boundary and the Trees were already thinking it was going to be a long, hot leather-chasing afternoon, but then David Lomax (3-42) found his range with the new ball.

He surprised his Cardiff namesake with a short delivery that was only spooned to square-leg, then two balls later found an unplayable swinger to disturb the new batsman’s off-stump. When a third batter edged Lomax behind Cardiff were 40-3 and in danger of wasting an exemplary pitch.

A recovery of sorts took the score to 78 before Chris Powell’s spin engineered a stumping and heaped pressure on the in-coming Cardiff captain, Darren Swart (110). The hard-hitting Swart in conjunction with youngster Richard Sen (77*) put together a partnership that transformed the innings, whilst the latter was watchful and worked the ball around nicely Swart bashed all of the bowlers he faced without exception.

The Trees were looking at facing a total in the high 200s when a moment of magic stopped Swart. The batsman smashed a ball that was destined for the adjoining cow field when Baxter, right on the boundary edge, leapt like LeBron and caught the ball in the fingertips of the middle three fingers of his right-hand.

Llanarth were then able to control the final few overs and hold Cardiff to, a still handy, 252-6.

After an superlative tea, Ed James (45) and Mark Baxter (107*) set about the Cardiff bowling attack, looking to give the Trees some initial momentum for the large chase. If the outfield seemed quick when fielding, it seemed like Vaselined lightning when batting. Timed pushes simply flew to the boundary and the Llanarth openers were able to keep the run rate up without a semblance of risk.

The 100 was raised in the 18th over and it was a surprise to all when shortly afterwards James slapped a poor ball straight to cover and departed disconsolately.

Any thoughts that Cardiff had that their breakthrough would lead to a flurry of wickets was swiftly set aside by David Lomax (76*). He and Baxter showed no mercy on flagging bowlers as they marched relentlessly towards the target, dismissing the bad, and some good, balls to the ropes.

Shortly before the bowlers were put out of their misery, as Llanarth reached 253-1 to win by nine wickets, Baxter was able to complete a century, the 20 boundaries contained within it were testament to wonderful work by the groundsmen and a reduced desire to run between the wickets after overindulgence at tea.