SOUTH EAST WALES

were inserted and eventually all out for 220 in 48.4 overs.

Lewis Parfitt (97) fell agonisingly short of his century while Dan Jones took 4-34 with James Francis (3-58) and Ryan Ward (2-7) also among the wickets.

Opener Francis then sealed a fine all-round individual display as he carried his bat with an unbeaten 145 – a fine knock which included 18 fours and four maximums – to get them over the line.

James Morgan’s 5-39 ultimately proved to be in a losing effort for Newbridge who tasted defeat in the league for only the second time this season.

Second-placed Chepstow were also defeated, going down by 55 runs at Brecon.

Brecon, after being put in, were all out for 186 with Greg Webber (46) top scoring while Rizan Mansoor collected 5-40.

But that total proved to be enough for Brecon with Chepstow all out for 131 in reply.

Sam Hope-Bell made 39 but three wickets apiece for Tom Jones and Matt Williams helped bowl out the visitors with Ian Mitchell also bagging himself a couple of wickets.

Those defeats for the top two allowed Sudbrook to move up back into second and close on the leaders as they won by 40 runs at Usk.

After winning the toss and batting first, Sudbrook put 241-8 on the scoreboard with Ross Lewis striking 83 and Scott O’Leary 51.

Usk, despite a half century from Owen Watkins (59), were all out for 201 in reply with Jon Lewis (4-21) and Matthew Slape (3-34) doing the damage with the ball.

Elsewhere Croesyceiliog were four-wicket home winners over Pentyrch.

Visitors Pentyrch, who won the toss and opted to bat, made 211-9 off their overs. Opener Hywel John top scored with 59 while Josh Harris took 3-40.

An unbeaten 61 in reply from skipper Stewart Roden saw Croesy to victory with almost eight overs to spare while opener Alex Barry (48) and Luc Kear (40) both made useful contributions.