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Harrison-Allen Bowl Final : 2010

Sefton stars as Carew come back to win

Carew (126 all out & 155 for 6) beat Haverfordwest (145 for 7 & 133 for 7)
Umpires: Rob Bellerby & Huw Davies
Scorers: Mike Scourfield & Jayne Cole
Venue: Cresselly Cricket Club

A splendid second innings of 92 by opening bat Ian Sefton helped Carew recover from a 19-run interval deficit to win the coveted Harrison-Allen Bowl and leave Haverfordwest reflecting on what might have been in a highly competitive final which was played in the best of spirits.

Sefton blasted eight big sixes and five fours as he took only 65 deliveries to effectively take the game away from the opposition, who were perhaps left to reflect on the fact that they were unable to really apply the screw in their second innings as Rhys Davies took four wickets and Carew were excellent in the field, as typified by Brian Hall’s superb catch to get rid of Phil Kirkby, which seemed to lift the entire Carew team.

Fortunes ebbed and flowed
It was certainly a game where fortunes ebbed and flowed because after being asked to bat first, Haverfordwest lost influential run-maker Simon Holliday for a duck after Tom Davies had bowled a wide and then Holiday chipped his next ball straight to Ian Sefton at square leg.

Tom Davies also shifted his namesake Dai for 13 and Scott Helmich will remember his debut in the final because he clean bowled Steve Phillips from his first ball and then had Phil Kirkby beautifully caught in the covers by Simon Wood to leave The Town struggling at 47 for 4 half way through their innings.

But Karl Rhead held things together and a stand of 63 with Dan Field helped them climb back before Field was run out by Phil Jones for a strong 24, which included two big sixes. Rhead eventually departed for a classy 51, including five fours and a six, before he was caught by Helmich at deep cover going for another big hit – but the innings received a huge impetus when Adam James struck three sixes in the final over of the innings, which produced 21 runs as James finished on 32 not out from 18 deliveries.

A good start before losing their way
Carew started well via Sefton and opening partner Nick Scourfield, putting on 47 in nine overs before Scourfield (22) hit a return catch to Nick Dyer, who had Sefton (20) neatly stumped by Huw Scriven just two runs later. Dyer finished with 4 for 32 as he also shifted Rob and Tim Hicks cheaply, with the assistance of a second quality stumping by Scriven and a good catch in the deep by James.

Clive Tucker and Josh Wilment also bowled well for Haverfordwest and Phil Kirkby came on as fifth bowler to grab a vital 4 for 11, including Simon Wood for 23 runs, as Carew were dismissed for 126 off the final ball of the innings, making them 19 runs adrift at tea.

Better start but slow middle
Holliday and Rhead gave Haverfordwest a better start to their second innings as they shared an opening stand of 37 in the seventh over before Rhead (26, including three fours and a six) was well caught by Tim Hicks at long-off when another big innings looked in prospect for the opener. Rhys Davies added a second scalp when Kirkby fell to that Hall catch by the clubhouse when a six looked certain, and also shifted Holliday (25 in 42 balls) and Dan Field, again helped by good catches from Tim Hicks and Hall.

Simon Wood helped Davies apply the squeeze as only 36 runs came from the eight middle overs of the innings and again it was left to Adam James to fire late runs as he struck two sixes and two fours in his 29 runs accumulated from only 15 deliveries. Dai Davies chipped in with 16 runs but although Carew were set a challenging target of 153 runs to win a general feeling amongst the pundits was that the Village side was still very much in with a chance.

‘Seffie’ stars
Sefton served notice of intent from the outset of the game’s fourth innings with some lusty blows and Scourfield played the anchor role well in a stand of 75 before he was bowled by Dyer for 19.

Brian Hall was run out shortly afterwards to make it 85 for 2 but Simon Wood added 13 before he was superbly stumped by Scriven off Josh Wilment, who did well to return figures of 2 for 27 when the Carew score stood at 122. Sefton had a couple of narrow squeaks from possible run outs but Haverfordwest failed to shift him and paid the inevitable price as he sped to 50 from 40 balls and had amassed 92 before he finally fell to Dyer in a 4 for 56 haul that was rather more expensive than Dyer might have liked.

There was a minor alarm as Robert Hicks was stumped by Scriven for a second time and Tim Hicks was dismissed for a duck but Rhys Davies and skipper Phil Jones applied the coup de grace as Carew won by four wickets with seven balls to spare.

Post match presentations.
In conducting the post-match presentations as efficiently as ever, Pembroke County Club chairman Trefor Evans said that he thought that both teams deserved every credit, as did the umpires, scorers and the crowd, who provided just the right atmosphere for Pembrokeshire’s big day – and he was right.

Hugh Harrison-Allen was thanked by Mr Evans for providing an excellent tea and presented the plaques to both teams, along with the Bowl presentation by Mike Scourfield on behalf of new sponsors Thomas Scourfield and Son.

It might be clichéd to say that it was cricket which was the winner on the day but that is absolutely how it was because it was a cracking final in which Phil Jones and his boys ran out deserved victors because they had the match-winner in Ian Sefton and showed their typical spirit and refusal to accept defeat.

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19. Karl Rhead blitzes a boundary

20. Phil Kirkby gets four wicket congratulations

21. Dai Davies plays a straight bat

22. Phil Kirkby enquires, while Simon Wood awaits his fate.

23. No question here . .

24. . . or here.

25. Brian Hall celebrates his catch.

26. Robbie Hicks looks strong

27. Carew skipper Phil Jones & coach Mike Scourfield with the Bowl

28. man of the match Ian Sefton & captain Phil Jones

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Haverfordwest – First innings batting:

Carew First innings batting:

Haverfordwest – Second innings batting:

Carew – Second innings batting: