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After rain disrupted play around most of the county borough last weekend, cricket returned once more as Week 10 saw some high scoring affairs.

Unfortunately, there was no shock result in the division one matchup between bottom-of-the-league Newbridge and Radyr.

Radyr chased a reasonable 133 set by Newbridge but managed the task with relative ease; six wickets to spare in 33 overs. Newbridge now have 98 points and are almost certainly favourites to go down. 

In more positive news, Blackwood Town have moved into top spot in division two as they thumped a respectable Lisvane side by nine wickets in 28 overs.

Blackwood are only two points clear at the top but have promotion within their own hands as second place Ebbw Vale look to close down. 

Pontymister and Crosskeys were still chasing first place in division three as they hosted Cardiff Cricket Club in what turned out to be one of the higher scoring games of the weekend.

The hosts batted first and set a strong 191 for the visitors to chase. Cardiff got to within 37 but couldn’t quite manage the target. Pontymister and Crosskeys are now 18 points off Barry Athletic. 

Elsewhere in division three, mid-table Crumlin faced off against bottom of the table Monkswood with plans on improving their league position. 

Crumlin opened the batting and set a modest 162 which Monkswood failed to get close to, eventually winning by 48 runs after just 29 overs. Crumlin move up one place to sixth in the table. 

In division four, Machen Cricket Club extended their win streak to nine and unbeaten streak to ten as they sat comfortably in pole position. 

Travelling to third place Usk, the visitors opened with a brilliant 193 and left Usk with it all to do. Indeed they nearly did; as the game went to the wire before the hosts ran out of overs, giving Machen the points in an 18 run victory. 

Only the second loss of the weekend for the Caerphilly County Borough sides came at Sully Centurions as the visitors, Abercarn, failed to beat the bottom side in division seven.

It was the closest tie of the weekend however, with Abercarn getting to within eight runs before losing their final wicket. They remain seventh.

Win of the week has to go to Cefn Fforest and Maesycwmmer in division nine, as they thrashed top of the table Ebbw Vale Seconds on the road by no less than 123 runs.

The mammoth 262 set by the visitors was never threatened and leaves them just ten points off top spot in third place. A hotly contested three-way race for promotion continues and will be one to watch as the season progresses. 

If any cricket club wishes to get in touch about match reports and picture feel free to contact tom@caerphilly.observer.