Monmouth Cricket First Team - A whirlwind 156

A WHIRLWIND 156 from Feckenham's Nadeem Bedford sentenced Monmouth Cricket Club to their second successive defeat in the Worcestershire County League.

The South African opener hammered 15 fours and six sixes in a brutal 98-ball innings to single-handedly blast the Redditch club to a four-wicket win last Saturday.

Monmouth posted an impressive 270-8 but their total proved insufficient as bogey side Feckenham sealed a remarkable triumph with 15 balls to spare.

Bedford had only scored 55 runs in his four previous league knocks for lowly Feckenham but he struck form to destroy Monmouth's victory hopes.

The Welshmen have now slipped to third place in the Division 2 table with Oldswinford and Pedmore taking charge of the two promotion spots.

Despite a quick-fire 17 from David Teague, Monmouth slipped to 53-3 at Mill Lane before opener Dan Head (65) and Wayne Etheridge (55) laid the foundations.

The returning Head and Etheridge took Monmouth, sponsored by JD Wetherspoon, to 98-3 from 25 overs and shared a vital fourth-wicket stand of 102.

In-form all-rounder Jordan Charles provided the fireworks for Monmouth, blazing 56 from just 34 balls in a superb innings, containing three sixes and four fours.

Charles joined forces with Tej Saran (28) and the pair added 78 runs for the seventh wicket as Monmouth scored 99 runs off the final 10 overs.

After the interval, Bedford made his intent known from his first ball, carving an attacking shot narrowly past his leg stump.

The South African gave Feckenham a rip-roaring start as the Worcestershire outfit brought up their 50 in only the sixth over.

Bedford attacked in Twenty20 fashion and, with support from Griffiths (45), the hosts steamrollered their way to 136-1 from 20 overs.

The destructive opener plundered his century and, despite a predominantly aerial approach, he was dropped only once - at mid-wicket after he had reached 142.

Charles (1-33) eventually bowled Bedford in the 39^th over but Feckenham were in a match-winning position at 244-3.

Spinner Jonathan Jones (3-33 from eight overs) was the pick of the Monmouth attack as the visitors staged a spirited late fight-back.

But Feckenham remained calm to clinch their win in 48.3 overs to inflict Monmouth's second defeat of the campaign.

Aled Jones (1-29 from seven) and Jonathan Roberts (1-50) also picked up wickets, while Teague and Cole McConchie held catches and Head made two stumpings.

The match balls were sponsored by JD Wetherspoon and Mike Hoddinott.

Monmouth will be aiming to get their league campaign back on track when they travel to Worcester Dominies on Saturday.