Clive Huxley Cup Final:

 

 

Cresselly Ladies (125 for 6 and 76 for 4) beat Whitland Ladies (97 for 2 and 100 for 7) by 6 wickets

 
Umpires: Chris Stapleton and Steve Williams.

The Clive Huxley Cup is finally in the hands of Cresselly Ladies after they chased down their final innings target of 73 against Whitland on Sunday.
 
In a game again held in a glorious sunshine at Bosherston and Stackpole, Lauren Arthur’s team prevailed, having been runners up in the two previous finals – and duly celebrated in style following a hard-fought contest.






First innings: Whitland 97 for 2

It was Arthur who won the toss and duly opted to field, a decision which looked a good one when the captain herself caught Caroline Cooper (1) off Lucy Johnson’s bowling.

But then came a stand of 47 between opener Angharad Jenkins and Kelly Rogers, with Jenkins hitting a boundary in her 25 before she gave a catch to Chrissie Toy as Ffion Ashman claimed a wicket.

At 52 for 2 Rogers kept going though, making five boundaries in her super knock of 48 not out, while Lani Hogben played the perfect foil with 11 not out as the pair took Whitland to a competitive total.

For Cresselly, Johnson (1 for 14) and Ashman (1 for 16) finished as the only wicket takers.

Cresselly 125 for 6

It was skipper Arthur who was then the early aggressor in her side’s reply, despite losing opener partner Lucy Johnston (5) early when she was caught by Rogers off Fflur Davies.

Arthur pushed on to make 28 (three fours) before Rogers was again in on the act by clean bowling her, and namesake Megan (1) followed as she gave a return catch to the same bowler.

But at 57 for 3 it was Ffion Ashman, already a cup winner with Burton, who pushed things on as she put on 24 with Eleri Williams (6) before the latter was caught by the influential Rogers, this time off Amy Morgan’s bowling.

Ashman went on to hit 29 (four fours) before being caught by Cooper to give Davies a second wicket, and she soon had a third when Morgan took a catch to remove Harri Truman (6).

No 6 Zoe Minnett kept the momentum going with 20 not out (one four), with Chelsea Morris 4 not out as the pair pushed The Doves to 125 for 6, a healthy 28-run lead at half way.

For Whitland, Davies finished with 3 for 23, Rogers 2 for 13, and Morgan 1 for 28.

Second innings: Whitland 100 for 7

If Whitland were hoping to wipe the deficit early, then Megan Arthur had other ideas.
She removed Cooper (0) lbw, and then skittled Jenkins (3) and Rogers (2) to leave the batting side reeling at 9 for 3.
Arthur would finish with 3 for 10 in her four superb overs, but then it was Hogben who breathed life back into the final.

Despite seeing Morgan (5) also go, bowled by Lucy Johnson, she and Davies took the score past 50 before the latter was skittled by Ashman for 7.

Alys John was also bowled without scoring by Eleri Williams but at 60 for 6, Hogben found support from Mari Kirk (13 not out), making it onto 47 before being run out in the final over.

Still, a total of 100 gave Whitland a lead of 72 and a fighting chance.

Cresselly (76 for 4)

The winning target suddenly looked a lot bigger for Cresselly when they slipped to 12 for 2, Rogers again causing chaos by trapping Johnson (4) lbw and then bowling Lauren Arthur (12).

Meg Arthur and Ashman restored order though when, with the score on 44, the latter was trapped leg before by Cooper for 13.

Arthur was then bowled by Morgan after three fours in her 17 but by that point, just 17 more runs were needed and they duly came from Minnett, who hit a quick-fire 18 (three fours), and Eleri Williams, whose 7 not out included the winning boundary off Morgan still with 5.5 overs in hand.

Rogers again finished pick of the bowlers with 2 for 15 and the camaraderie and sportsmanship between both sides was evident at the end, following what had been another great advert for women’s cricket in Pembrokeshire.

Katherine Adams presented Arthur with the silverware - and it was Rogers who deservedly picked up the Player of the Match award.There was also a special presentation made by Nick Evans to Sam Rossiter and Adams, who were both presented with a cap for their hard work and dedication to women’s cricket in Pembrokeshire over the last 30 years.