Johnny steers Whitland to their second Bowl final
PHOTOS:
Match winner Whitland's Jonathan Thomas
Dan Sutton struck a splendid 90 runs for Johnston
Pictures by Susan McKehon
Harrison-Allen Bowl semi final:
Whitland (187 for 6) beat Johnston (153 all out)
Umpires: Denis Chiffi & Dai Morris
Scorers: Janice Webb & Emma Summons
Venue: Narberth
An inspired all-round performance by Johnny Thomas helped Whitland reach their second Harrison-Allen Bowl Final in four years as they gained what eventually proved to be a comfortable victory over a Johnston side which gave of its best but is still left seeking its first-ever appearance in Pembrokeshire Cricket’s ‘Blue Riband’ event.
Put in to bat first, Whitland’s lofty total of 187 for 6 owed much to a splendid century by Thomas, who also claimed two wickets and took a good catch to claim the unofficial ‘man of the match’ tag.
Johnston might reflect on the fact that they gave away too many runs through their fielding and allowed Whitland to build such a commanding score, plus having Dan Sutton as their only big batting gun to fire really well as he fought to keep his side in contention.
Sutton smashed no fewer than ten sixes and two fours in his splendid 90 and survived one boundary chance before he was caught at ‘cow corner’ by Kevin Pearce off Wayne Howells and it was all over, bar the shouting.
Howells, who has bowled really well since joining Whitland from neighbours Narberth, used his vast experience to claim 4 for 21 alongside tight bowling from other old timers like Mark Lee, Greg Sleep and Leighton O’Connor, alongside Thomas’s 2 for 34 analysis that appropriately included the final wicket as he bowled Kevin Roberts.
Whitland had lost two wickets on 24 as Dylan Blain and Iestyn Scourfield were bowled by Steve Mills in quick succession but Paul Davies was joined by Thomas and this duo showed their class in a vital stand of 116 before Davies was bowled by Roberts for 50, including four fours and three sixes.
Scott Newton and Greg Sleep were run out in the late chase for runs but Thomas moved majestically to his 102 (which contained 13 fours and three sixes) to set up a daunting challenge for Johnston.
But they were soon in trouble as Mark Lee had Mikey Jones caught by Scourfield, who also featured again in the field as he caught ace run-gatherer Steve Mills off Greg Sleep, these two key figures sharing only 18 runs.
Sleep also shifted another big hitter in Lee Summons but Rhys Dalling (21) joined Sutton in trying to repair the damage in a stand that took Johnston from 44 to 122.
At this stage the Glebelands Boys were back in contention Dalling but departed for 21 as Howells struck, following up with the key wicket of Sutton – and Johnston lost their last five wickets for only eight runs to send a delighted Whitland contingent to the big day at Cresselly on Saturday, 1
st August, 2015.
Whitland Batting:
Dylan Blain b Steve Mills 5
Paul Davies b Kevin Roberts 50 (4x4,3x6)
Iestyn Scourfield b Steve Mills 0
Johnny Thomas run out 102 (13x4,3x6)
Scott Newton run out 15
Matthew Davies not out 4
Greg Sleep b Steve Mills 0
Kevin Pearce not out 1
Extras 10
Total (for 6 wickets) 187
Johnston Bowling
Dan Sutton 6-0-42-0, Steve Mills 6-0-31-3, Chris Fitzpatrick 3-0-35-0, Kevin Roberts 3-0-29-1 Lee Summons 3-0-38-0, Jack Mills 1-0-8-0
Johnston Batting:
Dan Sutton ct Kevin Pearce b Wayne Howells 92 (2x4,10x6)
Mikey Jones ct Iestyn Scourfield b Mark Lee 9
Steve Mills ct Iestyn Scourfield b Greg Sleep 9
Lee Summons ct Jon Thomas b Greg Sleep 3
Rhys Dalling lbw b Wayne Howells 21
Ross Dewstowe st Dylan Blain b Jon Thomas 0
Chris Fitzpatrick ct Scott Newton b Wayne Howells 9
Jack Mills st Dylan Blain b Wayne Howells 2
Lee Walters run out 2
Liam Boswell not out 2
Kevin Roberts b Jon Thomas 0
Extras 4
Total (all out) 153
Whitland bowling:
Mark Lee 5-0-38-1, Greg Sleep 6-0-35-2, Leighton O`Connor 2-0-21-0, Johnny Thomas 4.2-0-34-2; Wayne Howells 4-0-21-4