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Cresselly (135 for 8 & 113 for 5) beat Neyland (142 for 5 & 103 for 8)

(   Match Photos . . pg.1 . . pg.2   )

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Umpires: Hilliard Davies & Tony Scourfield

Scorers: Lois Howlett-Dyer & John Laugharne

Man of the Match Adjudicators:
Roger Stanford (Saundersfoot) and Richard Hayman (Burton)

Cresselly fought back from a seven-run tea-interval deficit to win the 2009 Harrison-Allen Bowl against a Neyland side which battled hard throughout and had skipper Andrew Miller chosen as man of the match for his superb all-round performance.

That the match took place at all was a tribute to the superb work of groundsmen Glyn Cole, Denis Chiffi and Phil James, assisted by willing helpers, including several Cresselly players, who were at the ground from 6am following torrential overnight rain had threatened postponement. Their efforts, allied to a commonsense decision by umpires Hilliard Davies and Tony Scourfield to start just 30 minutes late, meant that the good crowd had some cracking cricket to watch, with some big hits, excellent fielding and catching and some good bowling, led by Andrew Miller, who claimed 5 for 18 and 3 for 15, as well as scoring a combined total of 68 runs.

Neyland show positive approach

Neyland elected to bat first after winning the toss and this bold ploy paid dividends despite losing key opener Paul Murray for a single to Lyn Richards before Scott John and Andrew Miller took the score to 68 before John was adjudged lbw to the canny Richard Harris for a fine 53, including six fours, two of them from the first balls of the match, and a six. Andrew Miller had six fours in his 43 from 48 balls, including six boundaries whilst Nick Kooman showed he could bat well at No 4 with a six and four in his 34 from only 24 deliveries faced.

Gregg Miller was unlucky to be run out in the inevitable late chase for runs but a final Neyland tally of 142 for 5 was a good score in view of the wet outfield.

Cresselly make a late charge

Cresselly also lost an early wicket as Andrew Harris drove a ball from Patrick Hannon straight to Gregg Miller in the first over and departed for a duck but Phil Williams dropped anchor so that he had one boundary in his 30 and there were good innings by Simon Cole (3 fours and a six in his 22) and Adam Chandler (three fours and a six in his 37). Ryan Lewis and Lyn Richards shared four sixes as they scored 21 and 13 in Cresselly’s late charge, where 22 runs came from the last two of their 22 overs, and Cresselly finished up on 135 for 8 wickets, well in touch and ensuring that an absorbing second half to the final was a probability.

Hammer blows for Neyland

But Neyland hopes of a bright start after tea were dealt two early hammer blows by Richards, who shifted both Murray and John with only ten runs on the board, following up with the wicket of Kooman in his 3 for 22 analysis. Stefan Jenkins trapped Gregg Miller lbw at the other end as he conceded only 14 runs from his six overs and at 30 for 4 Neyland were in some trouble.

Again it was Andrew Miller (25) who helped them out alongside Jeremy Charles (28) but Harris and Ryan Lewis shifted them and Harris finished on 3 for 29 as Neyland were forced to settle on 103 for 8, perhaps more than seemed likely at one stage but certainly less than they would have hoped for.

Williams leads Cresselly batting

Cresselly’s opening pair of Andrew Harris and Phil Williams gave their side a steady start which had the tempo increasing as Harris played the anchor role before he was out for 14, stumped by Sean Hannon from Andrew Miller’s first ball, whilst Williams went after the bowling to such an extent that he was caught by the ubiquitous Andrew Miller at long-off with seven fours and two big sixes in a very good half century.

Simon Cole and Adam Chandler both managed double figures but departed as part of a late wobble which saw Cresselly lurch from 104 for 2 to 108 for 5 against Durrant (2 for 29) and Andrew Miller (3 for 15). But Ryan Lewis hit the winning boundary so that Simon Cole, for the first time under his captaincy, could receive the coveted Bowl from Hugh Harrison-Allen, with Richard Fanus, of sponsors Graham/Jewsons, presenting the mementoes to both teams, earning Cresselly their 12th victory in the Blue Riband event of Pembrokeshire Cricket.