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The Harrison-Allen Bowl Final is rightly regarded as the Blue Riband event of Pembrokeshire Cricket and it is every player’s ambition to play in one, as I know to my cost after playing in semi-finals but just missing out on the big day.

Some of the players in this season's tussle between host club Cresselly and Haverfordwest have played multiple times, with The Town's Huw Scriven making an amazing 12th appearance, whilst his team's smashing scorer Jayne Cole will be there for the 16th time!

Cresselly also have players like Simon Cole, Ryan Lewis, Phil Williams and skipper Neilson Cole whose names are steeped in the recent history of this wonderful competition that was undoubtedly the forerunner of 20/20 cricket at the highest level - but over two 22-over innings apiece for a magnificent trophy worth many thousands of pounds!

But that will not matter much to either side during play because they will aim to wrest the initiative from the other at the toss, where both teams are renowned for batting first to build big scores and apply pressure - so it will be interesting to see if they continue with that theme.

Cresselly did just that against Neyland, the other top side in the county, in an earlier round and with batsmen of quality like Adam Chandler, Alex Bailey, Simon Cole, Ryan Lewis and Mike Shaw, ably assisted by Phil Williams and Neilson Cole they have real fire-power, although much has been made by our pundits about the potential loss of No 3 Iwan Izzard, rightly regarded as the most destructive batsman at the moment, who will be attending his sister's wedding to another Cresselly player in Sion Jenkins!

Haverfordwest are also immensely strong in batting through Simon Holliday, Ben Field, Dai Davies, Gareth Davies and Dan Potter, although some of them will be aware that they haven't fired on all cylinders this campaign. In addition, they have run-gatherers like Dan Cole, Nigel Delaney and especially Adam James, as dangerous a player as they come!

On the bowling front, Haverfordwest's James is regarded as the most potent fast bowler in the county, perhaps with assistance from Josh Wilment and Adeel Khan, whilst Cresselly will rely on the honest endeavours of Sam Harts and Tom Arthur, who have broken through to form a useful opening attack, with Bobby and Matthew Webb also coming into consideration.

But it is the slow bowling battle that is likely to determine the result because Cresselly's Ryan Lewis and Mike Shaw double up from being potent run-makers to tormenting opponents, as they did when they shared seven wickets in the semi-final. Simon Cole also lurks in the background as a third slow bowler.

In the other camp it is Holliday who poses a real threat alongside Gareth Davies, two left-arm spinners who are comfortable in the knowledge that they have taken a shed full of wickets, with Davies seemingly having that happy knack of striking early in his spell, sometimes whilst opening the attack.

In specialist roles there is parity of sorts because whilst Huw Scriven is still regarded by most pundits as No 1 keeper his opposite number Neilson Cole is also in the top three and doubles up as an excellent captain who relishes the role and the chance it offers for yet another Cole to raise the silverware for Cresselly. His opposite number is Danny Potter, who has already raised the coveted bowl aloft three seasons ago - and is, like Cole, an excellent reader of the game who commands respect from his troops.

So it is difficult to separate two very well-balanced and highly competitive sides but for me other pundits' concern about how the huge loss of Izzard will affect Cresselly might actually work in Cresselly's favour because each man jack of them knows that they have to give something extra to compensate for their loss.

So although I nail my colours to the mast as a former Haverfordwest hon secretary I have this nagging suspicion that Cresselly might shade the verdict - something that will delight Danny Potter, Ben Field and the rest because I am regarded as a bit of a Jonah when it comes to predictions!

It’s The Town again for me! By Fraser Watson

 
Two years ago, Haverfordwest met Cresselly in what was one of the most one sided Harrison Allen Bowl finals in recent times as that day, The Town simply overpowered the hosts, and the 128-run margin on victory was not a misleading one.
 
However, while I make Haverfordwest slight favourites, I envisage a far more competitive contest this time around because Danny Potter’s men have been up and down this season after their early league form was rampant, winning all of their first seven completed league games.
 

Recent knock-backs but big guns are ready to fire

 
But since then, heavy back to back defeats against Carew and Saturday’s opponents Cresselly have left them well behind league leaders Neyland, who also knocked them out of the DR Morris Cup - while their Bowl semi-final win over Tish was achieved despite an unconvincing batting display.
 
However, despite their recent fallibility - they have the big guns ready to fire in this format.
Simon Holliday’s record speaks for itself, while in Dai Davies, skipper Danny Potter, and Adam James, they possess batsmen who can take the game away from you in a matter of overs.
 
On the bowling front, James and Holliday again, and the addition this season of Gareth Davies, represents a varied and wicket taking attack.
 

Cresselly capable of success

 
And yet, the result of the league game between the pair, plus their quarter final win away at Bowl holders Neyland, indicates Cresselly are more than capable of recapturing the prize they last won in 2009.
 
Opener Adam Chandler’s form has dipped of late after a scintillating start to the summer, so  his wicket on Saturday will be a crucial one. If he can see off James and co early on, and provide the backbone to his side’s first and second innings, they are likely to score high.

But a major blow, weather permitting this Saturday, is the loss of Iwan Izzard.
 
The No 3 was one of the few to shine for his side in the aforementioned 2014 final, and his 129 not out against The Town in this month’s league clash would have had Potter’s men more than wary of his match-winning capabilities.
 
More pressure therefore, will fall on the shoulder of the likes of Alex Bayley and all-rounders Ryan Lewis and Simon Cole – while Mike Shaw’s display in the quarter final showcased his ability with bat and ball.
 
Tom Arthur and Sam Harts could also play decisive roles in the Cresselly attack, and skipper Neilson Cole will be fully aware of the need to stifle The Town’s top order.
 
If his team can indeed do that, they stand every chance – but my hunch remains that The Town have the greater firepower and batting depth to edge it.



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