As the season reaches its halfway point, Glangrwyney CC’s 1st XI climbed out of the relegation places in Marches League Division One with a home victory over Ledbury.

After a heavy downpour at midday, a delayed start was agreed and Glangrwyney batted first in difficult conditions.

Captain Mike Devoy (15) opened with Ryan Murphy Sharpe (20), with the first wicket falling at 20. Ryan and Barry Sharpe (11) then took the score on to 49 before both fell at that score. Drew Heffernan (13) and Paul Daniell (5) gradually built the total before Nick Jones added some impetus to the innings with a top score of 30 runs.

Nick was out with the total at 102 then Tom Miller with 20 not out guided the lower order through the remaining overs for a useful total of 133 for 9, aided by Jim Astle (1), Huw Charrington (5), Nicki Jones (3), and Julian Hardwick (4*).

After tea, batting conditions were much better with the pitch and outfield dried out. Opening bowlers Mike Devoy and Nicki Jones bowled well to have Ledbury reeling at 66-6.

Devoy completed his spell with 5-35 and Jones was unlucky to take only 1-27 in a frugal spell of 10 overs. New bowlers Ryan Murphy Sharpe and Julian Hardwick continued to keep a reign on the visiting batsmen, but the score mounted gradually before the seventh wicket fell at 101 quickly followed by two more.

At 106-9 Ledbury required 28 to win and some big hitting by Turner brought them close before Hardwick took the last wicket with one ball of the innings left to finish with 3-25. Ryan Murphy Sharpe bowled well to finish with 1-32 off his 10 overs.

A good all round performance from the home side in difficult conditions to give confidence for the second half of the season. This weekend the 1st XI are home to Woolhope, while the 2nd XI travel to Woolhope second.

The Sunday XI play at Abertillery after last week’s game at Llandrindod fell victim to the weather.