Comedy of errors as Penarth are all out for just 86 runs (From Penarth Times)

Comedy of errors as Penarth are all out for just 86 runs

PENARTH came down to earth with a bump last weekend, as they fell from the heights of top spot in the table to a comprehensive 89-run defeat.

Abergavenny were the visitors to the Athletic Field and it was a game Penarth should have won.

However, a disastrous batting display saw the home side skittled out for just 86 runs.

Abergavenny won the toss and elected to bat, but were soon on the back foot, as Tom Dilnot-Smith and John Vaughan-Davies took an early wicket each to reduce the visitors to 10-2.

Abergavenny skipper Andrew Jones made certain that his side didn't collapse as he provided the backbone of the innings with a solid 82, falling in the very last over.

Penarth bowled well, but their inability to dismiss Jones, despite a couple of chances, proved to be their downfall.

He held the innings together and kept his head while wickets fell at regular intervals all around him, 21 being the next highest score.

Robert Crimp continued his 1st team revival with 2-38, Richard Skone was miserly as ever, bowling 10 overs for just 16 runs, Smith finished with 2-24, while Davies and Mark Thomas picked up three wickets apiece, for 42 and 24 runs respectively, as the visitors were bowled out for 175.

The Penarth reply was a comedy of errors as they soon found themselves 29-4, with Gavin Heritage doing the damage as he bowled seven overs, taking four wickets for five runs.

Only Richard Skone provided any real resistance as he made 31. Matt Thomas (12) and Robert Crimp (10) were the only other batsmen to make it into double figures.

Kyle Holmes (4-27) and M Beechem (2-8) polished off the Penarth line-up.

The first team will be looking to get back to winning ways on Saturday when they visit Panteg.

The 4th XI were the only other side in action and they were also unsuccessful.

David Stevens (61) and Neil Stephens (46) guided Penarth to 166 all out. But a dropped catch by Stevens early in the Christchurch innings proved costly as the batsman went on to score 63, which proved to be the catalyst for an away win.

Teams for this weekend:-

1st XI v Panteg (A), meet 11am: D Ricketts, N Morgan, J Vaughan-Davies, R Skone, K Maddox, M J Thomas, J Docherty, M A Thomas, M Frost, T Dilnot-Smith, J Parkinson.

2nd XI v Panteg (H), meet noon: R Crimp, M Slugg, T Sidford, G Davies, R Meggitt, R Bromiley, J Clogg, R Morgan, A Prickett, L El-Khatib, N Stephens.

3rd XI (A). meet 12.15pm: I Akhtar, Sunil P, M Sadler, M Allen, S Wilkinson, A Chilcott, I Humpage, Z Ghelan, I Summerfield, R Goodfellow, A Crimp.

4th XI (H), meet 1pm: from P Ward, J Ward, D Slugg, S Newman, M Parry, R Latts, H Morgan, T Miller, R Healy, Rh Morgan, T Parkinson, J Davies, S Lewis, R Cox, V Aitkin, M Hitchen, M Birch, D Pritchard, J Crimp.

Sunday, 1st XI v Cardiff (H), meet 12.50pm: from D Ricketts, N Morgan, J Vaughan-Davies, R Skone, K Maddox, M J Thomas, J Docherty, M A Thomas, M Frost, T Dilnot-Smith, J Parkinson, L El-Khatib, R Bromiley, G Davies, R Crimp.