THERE were a staggering 228 wides bowled in the First Division alone of the South East Wales Cricket League, with 85 being bowled at Croesyceiliog, writes Lyn Hall.

This is gifting opponents bonus points, for obviously there is the opportunity of also scoring off the additional balls bowled, and putting pressure on sides to complete their overs in the required time.

Perhaps captains should make their bowlers bowl many overs in the nets!

Abergavenny consolidated their position at the top of the table with a three-wicket win at Croesy but were made to fight all the way by the home team who looked in big trouble at 78 for 5.

However, runs from the lower order with captain Sam Saunders setting an example pushed their score to 182.

It was a similar story when Aber batted but 49 from Tom Norton and 36 from Jack Ryan saw them home.

Just up the road at Panteg, the home team were grateful, not for the first time, to the Reid brothers. Callum scored 36 and James 67 as they were responsible for half their total of 206.

Malpas are a confident batting team and with captain Mikey Martin hitting 64 to support Ben Tegg, who hit 73 got home for a six-wicket win with four overs remaining.

Ebbw Vale were soundly defeated as visitors Llandaff amassed 325 for 6 in their allocated overs with Khassan Ilyas one short of a century.

Ebbw were never in the hunt and only Darryl Blake showed any resistance as they folded to 100 all out with Kamran Khan taking the top three as he took 4 for 32.

At Lisvane, only Vedansh Guru and Brendan Hildebrand managed double figures for the home team as they slipped to 126 all out with Nathan Robinson continuing his good form by taking 4 for 22.

Miskin didn't take long to chase the target although they five wickets for just 12 runs at one stage before getting home by four wickets.

The other two games in this division were affected by rain and first innings scores were adjusted by the Duckworth, Lewis Stein calculations.

With rain forecast, Tondu asked Sudbrook to take first knock after winning the toss and looked to rue this decision as Ross Lewis, Mathew Kinchin and Will Supple guided them to 256 at the break.

This score was adjusted to 214 off 34 overs and they achieved this target following an excellent 134 from opener Scot Thornton.

Andrew Clarke (52) and Neil Reardon (47) put on 106 for the first wicket for Blackwood at Radyr and with other batters chipping in went on to 216, which was revised to 183.

Archie Clegg hit 46 for the home team but he had little support as they were dismissed for 172 with Richard Mathews taking the last four wickets for 62 to give his side their first win of the season and to move them off the bottom of the table to be replaced by Croesyceiliog.

The shock result of the day was at high-flying Newport, who lost to bottom of the table Newbridge after they got home with just one wicket and four overs remaining.

At 107 for 3, Newport looked well set but their middle order collapsed with Cruz Morgan taking four for 13.

James Morgan set Newbridge on their way and a late 35 from Elliot Jenkins was exactly what the visitors required.

At the top of the table, Newport Fugitives continue to put pressure on Whitchurch Heath as they had a comfortable victory over Lisvane who they dismissed for 116 with veteran James Didcote tying up the middle order as he finished with four for 18.

Louis Tovey ad Richard Jones made light work of their setting up their team putting on a quick 81 for the first wicket as they raced to an eight-wicket win.

The sportsmanship award of the day must go to Tom Carey, captain of Whitchuch Heath.

Barry keeper Wes Baker was hit in the face and had to leave the field for assessment so Carey arranged for a substitute fielder during his absence, something not normally seen these days.

With Tom Evison hitting 69, Barry set a target of 180 which should have been higher as their last six batters added just 19 runs between them.

Chris Vanos dominated the reply hitting an unbeaten 102 as they swept to victory with still 17 overs available.

Rogerstone returned to form returning home from the Vale with a comfortable win under their belt. Alec Holdawy and Fahad Anser led Roggie to 177 while opening bowler Jake Ramji blew away any hope the Vale had with six for 11 and with John Berry wiping up the tail the last wicket fell with still 55 runs required.

Brecon hit the highest score in this division recording 262 against St Fagans with opener reaching his ton just on the interval.

Only two St Fagans batters reached double figures as they rolled over with a 211 defeat, with Jac Kensington taking 5 for 7 off five overs.

In Division Three Pontymister/ Cross Keys woes continue as they couldn't stop Creigau reaching a target of 210 while Machen also went down as they were unable to went down as they failed by just 21 runs to reach Pontypridd's 275 at the picturesque Ynysangharad Park.