ECB National Indoor Cricket Competition – Regional Finals:

Umpires: James Belcher & Matt Johnston
Scorer: Kacey Arran
Neyland 7^th Man; Tom Pritchard
 
Venue: Taunton Centre of Excellence
 
Congratulations are due to the fantastic indoor cricketers of Neyland as two fantastic victories over the winners of other county indoor leagues take them to another visit to Lord’s for the biggest day in the year of the indoor game across the UK.
 
They did doubly well because they made the 360-mile round trip to Taunton with three regular squad members unavailable, including captain Patrick Bellerby, with former skipper Sean Hannon putting his experience to good effect in leading the team as well as sharing the driving duties with Paul Murray in the unavoidable absence of team manager Martin Jones!
 
They set off with their usual breakfast at Pinto’s Café near Carmarthen and enjoyed a quick meal from KFC on the way home; their food generously sponsored by MM Griffiths Accountants.
 
They had to play Bournemouth CC in the semi-final and then take on Cheltenham Civil Service in the final, the team that beat Neyland at the same stage last year, who had been given a bye in the other semi-final because Ventnor CC dropped out.
 
In both games Neyland won the toss and opted to bat second; bowling and fielding really well before chasing down totals that seem small in games in this county but played with a new ball swinging all over the place and batting made more difficult in a hall where quick scoring was difficult.
 
So now it’s off to Lord’s on Sunday, 2^nd April and it is to be hoped that all of their talented squad will be available, alongside those who served them so well in Taunton!
 
 

Semi-Final:

 

Bournemouth (58 all out) lost to Neyland (59 for 2)

 
Neyland made a wonderful start in their match against a Bournemouth team which had powered through the earlier rounds in their area, but lost two wickets in the first over, stood in disarray at 2 for 3, 18 for 4 and 25 for 5.
 
Ben Rogers was the first to go, run out as he totally misjudged a first-ball single and quick thinking by bowler Nathan Banner saw him run out for a duck – and No 3 Tom Robinson followed from the fourth ball as keeper Paul Murray took a superb catch and banner enjoyed that rarity in indoor cricket – a double wicket maiden.
 
Johnny Coombs stood at the other end in dismay but he was the third to register a duck as Jack John bowled him from his fourth delivery – but then Cole Rushworth and Connor Smith settled things down a little until Smith departed for 10 off 11 balls but then fell to Nick Koomen as former Haverfordwest skipper Dai Davies made a somewhat unusual debut by helping out at relatively short notice and pouching a good catch, diving forward at mid-off.
 
Rob Pack became the fourth Bournemouth player to fail to score a run as he was bowled by Sean Hannon and at 25 for 5 it meant that Cole Rushworth had to bat alone, starting at 9 not out and all that stood in Neyland’s way of a crazy total to chase down.
 
But Rushworth batted sensibly, scoring the only boundary of the innings and reaching 32 off 36 balls before Nathan Banner returned for his third over and Dai Davies took a good catch off the side wall from the first delivery.
 
A target of 59 for victory seemed simple but Neyland openers Nick Koomen and Paul Murray were put under immediate pressure by pace bowlers Rushford and Robinson as the ball swung a huge amount and the main source of early runs were from wide deliveries called by the umpires.
 
Koomen showed his batting class but Rob Pack came on and trapped Murray (3) and Sean Hannon (0) in the space of three balls with the total at 23 and 25, both adjudged lbw – but Koomen reached 25 in 36 deliveries to take the edge out of the swing, before retiring.
 
Nathan Banner contributed a boundary in his 9 not out (9 balls) and Dai Davies ended on 3 not out from six balls as Neyland paced their innings, not taking any chances and eventually reaching their target with four balls remaining before taking a deserved short break before facing Cheltenham CS CC in their rematch.
 

Scorecards:

 
Bournemouth Batting:
Jonny Coombs b Jack John 0
Ben Rogers run out 0
Tom Robinson ct Paul Murray b Nathan Banner 0
Cole Rushford ct Dai Davies b Nathan Banner 36
Connor Smith ct Dai Davies v Nick Koomen 10
Rob Pack b Sean Hannon 0
Extras 12
Total (all out) 58
 
Neyland Bowling:
Jack John 3-0-8-1; Nathan Banner 2.1-0-12-2; Nick Koomen 3-0-10-1; Sean Hannon 3-0-16-1.Neyland Batting:
Nick Koomen retired 25
Paul Murray lbw b Rob Pack 3
Sean Hannon lbw b Rob Pack 0
Nathan Banner not out 9
Dai Davies not out 3
Extras 19
Total (2 wickets) 59
 
Bournemouth Bowling:
Cole Rushford 3-0-13-0; Tom Robinson 2-0-26-0; Rob Pack 3-0-8-2; Connor Smith 3-0-9-0.
 



 

Final:

 

Cheltenham Civil Service (78 all out) lost to Neyland (79 for 1)

 
Neyland again fielded first and in a different scenario faced pressure because Cheltenham scored 28 without loss in four overs but then opener Craig Baker was well caught by Dai Davies off Koomen for 8 (11 balls); who also shifted Bradley Wood (6 in 11 deliveries) as keeper Murray took another good catch to give Koomen an excellent 2 for 13 from his three overs.
 
Neyland kept applying the pressure but opener George Leadbetter retired on 25 at a run a ball having stroked two fours and three threes, no mean feat with the way the ball rebounded off the side walls.
 
Andrew Bates belted 12 before he was run out and William Fell scored 14 before Banner took a good catch off Jack John – but Steve Bridge (4) was run out and when Leadbetter returned Banner was again successful as Jack John took the catch, a real rasper off the side wall.
 
Neyland’s batsmen showed they had adapted from their earlier game as openers Koomen and Murray took the score past 50 before retiring, with Murray completing his 25 in only 18 balls and Koomen facing 17 ‘dot balls’ in support but reaching 28 with the only six of the day.
 
Dai Davies faced three balls without scoring but then hit three threes before he was adjudged lbw to Leadbetter but then banner (5 not out) and Sean Hannon (6 not out) took their team to 79 for 1, with eight balls and five wickets in hand.
 

Scorecards:

 
Cheltenham Civil Service Batting:
Craig Baker ct Dai Davies b Nick Koomen 8
George Leadbetter ct Joe John b Nathan Banner 26
Bradley Attwood ct Paul Murray b Nick Koomen 6
Andrew Bates run out 12
William Fell ct Nathan Banner b Jack John 14
Steve Bridge run out 4
Extras 8
Total (all out) 78
 
Neyland Bowling:
Nathan Banner 3-0-20-1; Jack John 2.2-0-12-1; Nick Koomen 3-0-13-2; Sean Hannon 3-0-25-0.
 
Neyland batting:
Nick Koomen retired 28
Paul Murray retired 25
Dai Davies lbw b George Leadbetter 9
Nathan Banner not out 5
Sean Hannon not out 6
Extras 6
Total (1 wicket) 79
 
Cheltenham Civil Service Bowling:
Steve Bridge 3-0-14-0; William Fell 3-0-23-0; George Leadbetter 3-0-21-1; Craig Baker 1.4-0-16-0.