SOUTH EAST WALES
A FIVE-WICKET haul from Lewis Parfitt inspired Newbridge who took another step towards winning the Thomas Carroll South East Wales Cricket League Division One crown after a four-wicket victory at Sudbrook.
Parfitt stole the show for the tabletoppers as he ripped through the Sudbrook batting, helping himself to 5-20 off six overs as the hosts were all out for 85. Ryan Watkins also got in on the act as he took 3-11.
The visitors did not have it all their own way in reply, losing six wickets on the way to knocking off the 86 required for victory, but 37 from skipper James Morgan helped steer them home.
Scott O’Leary took 3-11 with the ball for the hosts.
Nearest challengers Malpas, meanwhile, maintained their own title charge should Newbridge falter with a crushing 146-run victory at basement boys Blackwood Town.
James Francis struck 81 and Michael Martin (56) also hit a half century with the opening pair putting on 132 for the first wicket which laid the foundation for Malpas’ 247-9 off 50 overs. Dave Windross and Richard Matthews both collected three-wicket hauls.
In reply Blackwood were all out for 101 with Dave Griffiths bagging himself 4-19 while Dan Jones and Christian Rose both bagged wicket braces.
It meant Malpas recorded their eighth win in nine games and also saw them bounce back from last weekend’s defeat by Brecon.
Newbridge are 11 points clear of Malpas with three games of the season remaining while it’s starting to look ominous from Blackwood who are 35 points off the safety position in their battle to beat the drop.
Elsewhere in-form Brecon, having also enjoyed a victory over Newbridge in recent weeks, made it four wins on the bounce with a 13-run home victory over Croesyceiliog.
The hosts were all out for 177 after being inserted with Ieaun Wakefield, Stewart Roden and Lewis Pheasant all collecting two wickets.
But that total proved to be just about enough as, despite a fine 92 at the top of the order from Alex Barry, nobody could stay with him and his efforts would be in vain as visitors Croesy were all out for 164 in reply.
Tom Jones, Matthew Williams and Richard Lovering all took three wickets.
Brecon are third and 31 points behind Newbridge while the defeat for Croesy leaves them in sixth.
Last season’s runners-up Chepstow moved up two places to fourth after they won by 95 runs at Usk.
Gareth Ansell (61) and Mitchell Harris (73) put on 88 for the second wicket as Chepstow were all out for 255 after winning the toss and opting to bat first as Paul Murphy took 4-50.
Usk, who are now eighth, were then all out for 160 in reply, despite 52 from Murphy while Jason Dobbie took 4-26.
The other game in the top division saw Pentrych edge a low-scoring game at Pontypridd by eight runs in a match between two other sides battling to stay up.