The Builth Wells 1st team continue to be the pace setters in The Marches League Division one.
Following on from their maximum point home win over local rivals Kington last week, it was another local side in Crickhowell that were put to the sword this week, although at times Builth did make hard work of the game
On a hot and humid day skipper Nic Lee won the toss and made first use of another flat batting wicket at Garth Road. Sam Buckler fell in the 2nd over for 0 and Winston Williams followed shortly after leaving Builth in trouble at 29 for 2 in the 1st 12 overs. Crickhowell veterans Nick Francis & Tim Price moving the ball around off the seam and in the air making life difficult for the Wyesiders.
However Tim Richards joined Gerald Morgan and after a slow start steadied the innings and started to open his shoulders. Tim was unluckily given out LBW for 46 and at 88 for 3 in 25 overs a defendable score was looking uncertain.
Gerald Morgan was playing an unusually defensive innings but this now allowed captain Nic Lee to attack at will. Lee got into his stride very quickly hitting 9 fours and 3 towering sixes in a quick fire 71, putting on 90 in just 12 overs for the 4th wicket with Morgan. Jimmy Morgan then fed Morgan the strike so that Gerald Morgan could start to score freely and Morgan went to his 50 whilst hitting his 6th four. Gerald Morgan was eventually out for 54 leaving Jimmy Morgan 8 not out and Builth with 5 batting points in their 226 for 7 innings closed.
Crickhowell lost their first wicket in the third over without a run ont he board when Chris Truelove uprooted Rustells leg stump but then the visitors decided to take the attack to Builth finding the boundary at will. Jim Morgan picked up his 1st wicket of the season when Truelove to a good catch to dismiss opener Watts. However the 1st 15 overs produced 98 runs for just 2 wickets and it was looking difficult for Builth. Jim Morgan then picked up 2 more wickets giving a return of 3 for 50 before Rob Wall tied the Crickhowell batsmen down with his nagging line and length and then took 4 for 56 to follow his 5 wickets last week to leave Crickhowell hanging on at 173 for 8 giving Builth 19 well earned points and the early lead in the league with a long trip to Ledbury in store for this weekend.
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