Ross entertained Builth Wells in their latest Marches League fixture and came up well short after two of the most prolific run scorers in the division enhanced their credentials on an excellent wicket at The Park.

Builth Captain, Sam Williams had no hesitation in choosing to bat having won the toss and the number three was soon at the crease after Chloe Tingle quickly removed Winston Williams thanks to a catch by Stu Mair with the score on 11. Steve Anderson scored 35 before Adam Parkes made the next breakthrough with the score on 67 when Jack Donovan held a catch close in. Sam Williams was then joined by Dylan McPhee and the pair put on 213 for the third wicket with some of the best quality innings building that will be seen at this level.

Ross skipper Donovan tried six bowlers across the afternoon and it wasn’t until the penultimate over of the innings that Ross finally took a further wicket when Williams was eventually bowled by Adam Davies for 83. McPhee, who was the main aggressor throughout, made 123 including 15x4 and 3x6 before he fell in the final over, bowled by Chloe Tingle and Ross took a fifth wicket with the last ball when Tom Edwards’ throw into Jim Lewis enabled a run out as Builth finished with an imposing total of 286-5, Tingle being the pick of the Ross bowlers with 2-30 from her eight overs.

After another excellent tea, courtesy of Jane Donovan, the Ross reply got off to a bad start as pinch hitter Andrew Tingle fell for one and was quickly followed back to the pavilion by opening partner Alastair Cook 10.

Stu Mair was next to go for 19 to leave Ross at 48-3. Jack Donovan scored at better than a run a ball to keep Ross up with the required rate but a cluster of three wickets, including his dismissal for 39 left the run chase in tatters at 82-6.

Jim Lewis 13 and Adam Davies added 33 for the seventh wicket before the best batting of the innings came in a last wicket stand of 51 between Davies and Chloe Tingle. Davies made his maiden 1st XI fifty as he struck 8x4 and a six in an excellent innings of 62 from 75 balls and he was indebted to the supporting role played by Tingle who faced 38 deliveries for her unbeaten six.

Ross were finally bowled out for 172 to lose by 114 runs but the (mainly) young team kept going right to the end in both batting and bowling disciplines to gain important bonus points from the game.