A PLAYER-of-the-match display from Ben Pilot guided Monmouth to an emphatic eight-wicket win at Bay Dragons to take their South-East Wales League Division 6 promotion tilt to the final match of the campaign.

Pilot snapped up 4-29 from eight overs and then struck an unbeaten 45 at Cardiff’s Blackweir Fields on Saturday to clinch their 10th league win.

However, Monmouth’s 1st XI’s fate is not in their own hands – they remain fourth in the table – three points shy of second-placed Vale 2nds with one match left.

And they host third-placed Panteg 2nds at the Sports Ground (12.30pm) in a crucial final fixture this Saturday.

But both know that in-form Vale will seal the second promotion spot available with a maximum 20-point haul at home to sixth-placed Upper Rhondda.

Pilot took centre stage with the ball against Dragons after the hosts won the toss and chose to bat first on a very tricky pitch.

There were no early alarms for Dragons, however, as the hosts progressed to 44 before the first wicket.

A procession of wickets then followed and, despite knocks from Rabbi Gulam (29), Pyar Singh (22) and Ajay Singh (18), Dragons were shot out for 133 in 33.1 overs.

Gareth Jones snapped up 3-6, while Ben Davies (1-11), Eddie Atkinson (1-24 from eight) and Osian Jones (1-28 from six) also weighed in for Monmouth, while skipper Peter Keay (2) and Osian Jones held catches.

In reply, Ben Davies hit a quick-fire 29 but Monmouth slipped to 41-2.

However, an unbroken 93-run third-wicket stand between Pilot and Tej Saran (39 not out) steered Monmouth, sponsored by Bürkert Fluid Control Systems, to the target – and a maximum 20-point haul – in the 21st over to keep their promotion hopes alive.

Meanwhile, a superb display from all-rounder David Teague guided Monmouth 2nds to a vital nine-wicket home victory against promotion-chasing Monkswood & Panteg 3rds in Division 12.

Leg-spinner Monty Clarke also took the plaudits after snapping up 4-41 from eight overs in helping Monmouth to a resounding win, which lifts them one place above the drop zone with one match left.

Four-wicket Clarke and Teague, who took 3-18 from 7.5 overs, were supported by Aled Jones (1-31-8) in dismissing Monkswood for 181 in 39.5 overs at the Sports Ground.

Kit Skailes (0-25 -8) and Charlie Mallen both delivered lively stints for Monmouth.

Connor Curry (47), Simon Wanklyn (31), Indar Rawal (17) and Ben Richards (16) were the leading contributors for second-placed Monkswood.

Monmouth’s Ian Morgan and Jake Teague each held a brace of catches. Skailes took a catch and skipper Andrew Dobbie made a stumping, while sharp pieces of fielding from both Jake and David Teague led to important run-outs.

After the interval, Morgan (49 not out) and Jake Teague (45) put Monmouth firmly in command with an opening stand of 97.

Player-of-the-match David Teague (49 not out) then arrived at the crease and the former Glamorgan 2nds ace showed his class, stroking 10 sumptuous boundaries in a 30-ball exhibition to propel Monmouth to the target in the 25th over.

Monmouth’s 20-point victory elevates them to fourth-from-bottom.

The 2nds round off a challenging season this Saturday against promotion-hopefuls Lisvane 4ths at Cardiff’s Llandaff Fields (12.30pm).

Elsewhere, in-form duo Theo Minnie and Tom Willgoss starred in Monmouth 3rds’ commanding eight-wicket triumph against promotion-chasing Porth 2nds at Chippenham Fields in SEW 15.

Skipper Minnie bagged 5-19 from eight impressive overs and was backed by Willgoss (2-15-5), Steve Vickers (1-20), Dan Bernard (1-32) and Craig Morgan (1-42).

Ajaykumar Patel (59) and Nathaniel Summerhill (25 not out) were chiefly responsible for taking Porth to 171 all out in 35.2 overs.

Fresh from his century the previous weekend, Willgoss then struck a scintillating 75 not out to seal back-to-back wins for the first time this summer.

Opener Craig Morgan (40) and Richard Bowen (36 not out) also dazzled with the bat against Porth as the 3rds, who travel to Miskin Manor 4ths this Saturday (12.30pm), wrapped up an impressive triumph with 11 overs to spare.

Elsewhere, Redbrook & Penallt leapfrogged local rivals St Briavels to go third in Gloucestershire 7A, beating hosts Quedgley & Hardwicke 2nds by 47 runs.

The Wyesiders recovered from 31-3 thanks to skipper Liam Hurcombe anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 67, backed by Rajesh SR with 28, as they reached 156 all out.

But it was the bowlers who then won the day, reducing the hosts to 67-8 before dismissing them for 109, Rajesh taking 4-14-8, Kuldeep Singh and Tim Swanson two apiece, and Vipin Sathy one.

They face Tormarton 1sts at Pelham Fields in their final league game this Saturday.