Dinas Powys were brought back down to earth with a bump on Saturday following disappointing defeats for the first and second teams.

The firsts struggled to keep a lid on Whitchurch-Heath Seconds, who batted first and made hay while the sun shone in racking up 261-6 from their allocated 40 overs.

Casey Hughes (2-38) was the pick of the bowlers, but there was very little else to shout about as a wayward attack got plundered to all corners.

In response, half-centuries for Olly Hurley (65) and Jack Preston (53) kept Dinas in the hunt for an unlikely victory, until a procession of wickets put paid to the Villagers’ chances.

Dinas eventually succumbed for 194 inside 34 overs to leave Whitchurch victors by 67 runs.

There wasn’t much more to celebrate at Bryn-y-Don, where the seconds got turned over by Whitchurch-Heath Thirds.

Al Clark’s bruised toe was about as interesting as it got for the home side, who folded like origami to 37-4 and then 128-7 on a flat pitch with a lightning outfield.

Stand-in skipper Nathan Bennett (52) deserves great credit for lifting his side back into contention, before Calum Harris (26no) and Swampy Coughtrey (21) rallied at the death.

A total of 184-8 was never likely to be enough given the conditions, and despite a flurry of late catches, Whitchurch got the job done fairly easily for the loss of just five wickets.

That the visitors wrapped up their win so quickly was music to the ears of theatre-goer James Hiscocks, who left the ground for the Lion King looking Les Misérables.

Rhys Lloyd (3-26) returned the best figures of the innings, and while fielding with 10 men for 30 overs was never going to be easy, Whitchurch ran home worthy winners.

The only high point of an otherwise frustrating day was a narrow victory for Dinas Thirds over struggling Newport Fourths.

Batting first, the Villagers racked up a mammoth 287-4 off their 40 overs, thanks in large part to a match-winning century from Miles Wilton.

Wilton’s 106 adds to what has been a good month for Dinas’ favourite twins, with brother Mave having picked up a surprise hat-trick just a fortnight ago.

Rob Tucker’s 81 and George Eralil’s 44 provided very useful support, as Niles rode his luck to cash in on a typically generous Newport wicket.

In the field, Dinas made heavy weather of their defence, with no fewer than eight bowlers tried and ditched as the Newport batters hit out late on.

With 130 needed off the last 10 overs, lowly Newport nearly pulled off the spectacular, only falling a mere 14 runs short of the Dinas total.

Hywel Owen (3-25) was by far and away pick of the Villagers’ bowlers, with some eye-watering figures dished out to the rest of the attack.

Tucker’s three wickets, while valuable in the context of the game, came at a price – his heady mix of full tosses, long hops and ‘hit me wherever you like’ balls keeping the away side honest right until the end.

Newport’s innings eventually closed on 273-8, to leave a weary Dinas team victors and well in the mix for an unlikely promotion.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Dinas Powys Ladies landed their first major tournament at the Blackwood Ladies’ Festival.

A tremendous all-round performance saw the ladies run out winners in a competitive event.

The club would like to thank ladies’ sponsors Barry Bear Bakery, Beth Price Hairstylist and The Cross Keys for their continued support.