Sutton Steers Neyland to Bowl Final
PHOTOS:
Ashley Sutton inspired Neyland to victory with a brilliant 73 not out
Cresselly's Matthew Morgan was 19 not out for Cresselly
Pictures by Susan McKehon
Harrison-Allen Bowl Final:
Cresselly (141 for 8) lost to Neyland (144 for 3) by 7 wickets
Umpires: Steve Blowes and Richard Merriman
Scorers: Lois Howlett-Dyer & John Laugharne
Announcer: Paul Webb
Venue: Lawrenny Cricket Club (which did a great job as hosts!)
Neyland will contest a third Harrison Allen Bowl final in five seasons after a vital undefeated innings by Ashley Sutton inspired them to a semi-final win over Cresselly, despite being without four key players.
Sutton’s knock of 73 not out eased his side home with 14 balls to spare, after Cresselly had been restricted to what for their batting line up was a disappointing 141-8 in their 22 overs.
Flying start
After being put into bat, it was Neilson Cole’s side that made a flying start as opener Brad McDermott-Jenkins went on the attack, striking two fours and a six off Nick Koomen as he and Adam Chandler took Cresselly to 20-0 in just two overs.
And although the scoring rate then slowed, McDermott-Jenkins continued to play with attacking intent, and had made 40 of his side’s 54 runs (five fours and two sixes) when he was well caught on the boundary at extra cover by Nathan Banner, off the spin of Andrew Miller in the eighth over.
Momentum shift
As a result, the momentum shifted when Simon Cole (1) mishit a Banner delivery to Jonty Bennett at mid-wicket, before Iwan Izzard (4) was dismissed by Henry Durrant, assisted by a sharp catch at midwicket by Andrew Miller.
Ryan Lewis (13) cracked a four and a big six before a neat stumping from Luke Ryan, in for the unavailable Sean Hannon, gave Miller his second victim and when Durrant also removed Nick Davies (2) with the aid of a Banner boundary catch at 96-5 in the 17th over, Cresselly were not firing on all cylinders.
Below par total
Cresselly hopes now rested with the in-form Chandler, and he moved onto 47 (five fours) before becoming Durrant’s third victim, thanks to a superb diving catch by Scott Jones in the 18th over.
Matthew Morgan (19 not out) did his best to keep the score ticking late on, while Durrant trapped Mike Shaw LBW en route to excellent final figures of 4-36.
Skipper Cole (5) was run out as he tried to push matters in the final over, but in truth, Cresselly’s final total of 141-8 appeared well short of par on a very good batting track.
Neyland lose skipper but are soon in the groove
However, Cole’s men got the early wicket they needed in the Neyland run chase, as his opposite number Gregg Miller struck two early boundaries before flicking a Sam Harts’ delivery into the outstretched hands of McDermott-Jenkins at mid-on.
But No 3 Sutton was soon in the groove, planting Harts for a six over mid-on and joined Durrant in taking Neyland to 48-1 before a pivotal ninth over, where both batsmen were given a lifeline as difficult chances were put down from Tom Murphy and Lewis respectively.
To rub salt into the wounds, in the same over, Sutton launched bowler Lewis back over his head for six, one of three maximums alongside six fours in his vital final tally.
Hope for Cresselly squashed by Sutton
But Cresselly gave themselves hope when Durrant, who himself had struck a big straight six off Lewis, was bowled for 24 by McDermott-Jenkins, who then reduced Neyland to 100-3, as Banner (11) was also bowled after two quick boundaries.
Sutton then survived a run out scare and new batsman Koomen was fortunate when Murphy was unable to grasp a sharp chance off his own bowling – but after that, the pair comfortably saw Neyland home in the 20th over.
Sutton sealed the win with a lofted four over mid-off to finish on 73 not out, while Koomen ended up 16 not out (two fours).
It mean Miller’s men, boosted here by excellent performances from Luke Ryan, Geraint Rees, and Paul Miller as reliable stand-ins, now face a first-ever final meeting with Whitland at Cresselly on Saturday, August 1st, and will be seeking to recapture the trophy they last won in 2013.
Scorecard:
Cresselly Batting:
Adam Chandler ct Scott Jones b Henry Durrant 47
Brad McDermott-Jenkins ct Nathan Banner b Andrew Miller 40
Simon Cole ct Jonty Bennett b Nathan Banner 1
Iwan Izzard ct Andrew Miller b Henry Durrant 4
Ryan Lewis st Luke Ryan b Andrew Miller 13
Nick Davies ct Nathan Banner b Henry Durrant 2
Matthew Morgan not out 19
Mike Shaw lbw b Henry Durrant 3
Neilson Cole run out 5
Sam Harts not out 0
Extras 7
Total (8 wickets) 141
Neyland Bowling:
Nathan Banner 6-0-22-1; Nick Koomen 3-0-32-0; Andrew Miller 6-0-36-2; Henry Durrant 5-0-36-4; Scott Jones 2-0-12-0
Neyland Batting:
Gregg Miller ct Brad M-Jenkins b Sam Harts 9
Henry Durrant b Brad M-Jenkins 24
Ashley Sutton not out 73
Nathan Banner b Brad M-Jenkins 11
Nick Koomen not out 16
Extras 11
Total (3 wickets) 144
Cresselly Bowling:
Sam Harts 3-1-19-1; Tom Murphy 4-0-33-0; Mike Shaw 3-0-14-0; Ryan Lewis 3-0-33-0; Brad McDermott-Jenkins 5-0-32-2; Matthew Morgan 2-0-13-0