Newport defied the weather and the absence of two key plays to register their first Birmingham League victory of the season.
Their success in a tense match at Aston Unity gave them their first 24 point haul of the summer and, more importantly, lifted them out of the relegation zone for the first time.
Last season, Newport failed to start either of their games against the Birmingham side, and for a long time, it looked as of the same fate would befall Saturday’s game.
However, both sides were desperate to defy the conditions and eventually a match reduced to 27 overs was agreed.
With the game effectively halved in terms of duration, winning the toss was going to be crucial but once again skipper Stuart Blount called incorrectly, and the hosts had no hesitation in asking Newport to bat, opting to know exactly how to pace their innings when their turn to bat arrived.
But they reckoned without Paul Furniss, who laid the foundations of a useful Newport score with his highest knock of the season.
He had scored a vital 61 when he was fourth out with the score on 135.
All the Newport batsmen made useful contributions, Stuart Blount scoring 30 and Rasika 25 as the Newport innings closed on 152-4.
Despite being anchored to the foot of the table, Unity showed the previous week that that they were more than capable of posting a big score and they were determined to go for the win, and the all important haul of points.
However, Newport’s strike bowler Jonty Mountford had other ideas.
No doubt fired up by being recalled to the Shropshire side for their three day fixture in Cornwall this week, he ripped the heart out of the Unity innings, taking a five wicket haul for the first time this season.
With Rasika providing fine support from the other end to finish with 3-36, the home side saw their hopes ended with just one over to go when Paul Furniss rounded off a fine day by taking a brilliant catch to close their innings on 119.
