CRUSHING PERFORMANCE BY JACK DEVIES AND JAMIE WOOD

Newent post first win of the season. Read more...

5-18 from Jack Devries and 4-27 by Jamie Wood demolished a shell-shocked Ullenwood Bharat side at Three Ashes as Newent 1sts won their first game of the season by 8 wickets.

Ullenwood won the toss and decided to bat with opener Mahesh Shetty looking menacing as he took 8 off the first two balls of Jacks’ opening over. However, it proved to be third time unlucky as he was caught by Liam Malone on the boundary trying to repeat the shot. The visitors took their chances but were always pinned down by the line and length of Jack’s bowling and in the fifth over, with the score on 29, he struck again. Joined by first-change bowler, Jamie Wood, the pair then tore into the Ullenwood batting as they lost 6 wickets for 25 runs to be dismissed for 94 in the 29th over, with wicket keeper Neil Roche collecting a hat-trick of catches. It was left to spinner Karl Mortimer to pick up the last wicket as he trapped Taj Khan LBW.

Newent Skipper, Alex Gray, and fellow opener Ben Sillince made a sensible start to the home side’s innings knowing that overs would always be on their side, but Shetty trapped Alex as he played the ball on to his stumps with the score on just 9. Ben followed just 20 runs later as he was run out for 6 and when tea was taken at 29-2, Ullenwood must have thought they were in with a chance. However, they were thwarted by Tom Morley (31) and Morgan Evans (27) who continued to add runs as the visitors changed bowling regularly in an attempt to exploit a weakness in the batting. It took the pair just under 26 overs to reach the 95 required, and losing no further wickets, the 1sts claimed a well-deserved victory and 21 valuable points.