Usk seconds escape relegation

With the firsts' match abandoned because of a waterlogged pitch at the Sports village, all eyes switched to the seconds and their crucial match at home to Newport.

They had a day to remember as they won by 7 wickets to ensure Premier League cricket next season. Whilst on Sunday, in a friendly against Croesyceiliog, a makeshift Usk team lost by 45 runs.

Usk seconds went into their match placed in the relegation zone and knowing that only a victory would do. With other crucial matches being called off, Usk’s destiny was in their own hands. Mike Kear won the toss and inserted the visitors on a damp strip. Newport however made a solid start as they comfortably reached 40 without loss after 11 overs. Tony Kear then struck to get Usk back in the game, but it was not until the 23rd over that Usk began to make serious inroads. With the score on 70 Jake Roderick then took two quick wicket or the hosts including the important one of Hassan for 29. With Usk in the ascendancy, the hosts tore through the Newport middle order and bowled them all out for 119 in the 41st over. It could have been worse had Knox (39) not held the Newport innings together. For Usk Owen Watkins, Tony Kear and Jake Roderick each finished with three wickets.

With 59 overs at their disposal, Usk’s reply got off to a solid start as Mike Kear and James Osbourne posted 50 for the first wicket. Although Newport managed to winkle two more Usk batters, the hosts never looked like stumbling as Mike Kear (28*) and Owen Watkins (41*) steered them to victory and Premier League survival.

With the league programme over, Usk played an end of season friendly the next day against Croesyceiliog. Crossy won the toss and decided to bat. This looked a bad decision as Tom Lee struck in the third over. However Crossy’s top order kept the run rate ticking; Ali was in particularly destructive form smashing a quick 61. Crossy finished on 193 from their 40 overs. The pick of Usk’s bowlers were Lee, who took 12-0-57-3 and Richie Bottle, who finished with the miserly figures of 8-4-10-1.

Usk’s reply got off to a reasonable start and at the halfway stage the hosts were well placed at 75-2. However, the middle order struggled to keep up with the rate and Usk finished up well short on 148-6. Lee capped a fine game by top-scoring with an unbeaten 42.