Harrison-Allen Bowl Final:

 

Llangwm (121 for 5 & 169 for 9) lost to Neyland (159 for 6 & 132 for 4)

 
Umpires: Trefor Evans & Steve Blowes
Scorers: Janice Brick & John Laugharne (assisted by Janice Webb)
Announcer: Paul Webb
Venue: Cresselly Cricket Club
Man of the match adjudicators: Joyce Thomas & Maurice Cole
Man of the Match: Ashley Sutton (Neyland)
 
Neyland are the 2013 Harrison-Allen Bowl winners after beating Llangwm in an absorbing final at Cresselly where, for the first time ever, there was a century in both teams’ batting.
 
Ashley Sutton helped Neyland establish a 38-run first innings lead with a superb 102 not out which included eight fours and five cracking sixes, and then Will Beresford gave Llangwm hope of clawing their way back as he struck an amazing seven fours and ten huge sixes, including one over long on to reach three figures.

Both were also major contributors in their team’s other innings and this final will long be remembered for their performances, which stood out like beacon lights.

 

Llangwm lose wickets at key times

 
Llangwm were invited to bat first by Neyland skipper Gregg Miller and got off to a bright start from Beresford and Chris Inward, who was run out in a silly mix-up when the score was on 19 in three overs. James Venables (13) and Andrew Harries (15) also came and went from good catches by Gregg Miller and Paul Murray, who also caught Beresford when the left-hander was on 42 (four fours).
 
It was a blow for Llangwm who had failed to maintain a decent run rate and although Matthew Kiff scored a useful 24 not out a final tally of 121 for 5 was assuredly fewer than skipper Jonathan Twigg would have hoped for.
Nathan Banner was the pick of the Neyland bowlers with 2 for 29 and there was a wicket apiece for Patrick Hannon and Andrew Miller.
 

Sutton takes total control for Neyland

 
Yet there was early hope for Llangwm when Neyland lost Paul Murray in Andrew Harries’ first over, the bowler taking a good low return catch – and when skipper Miller departed with the score on 28 there were a few nervous Neyland supporters around the ground as he edged a Darren Brick delivery into Will Beresford’s gloves.
 
But Ashley Sutton was joined by the vastly experienced Andrew Miller, who kept the scoreboard ticking over until he departed for 23, stumped by Beresford off Harries’s canny slow stuff. But by then 83 runs had been scored, with Sutton defying his gammy leg to eventually race to three figures from only 63 balls, an innings of genuine quality. It left Neyland with a 38 run lead on 159 for 6 and it might have been more but 14 year old Phil Llewellyn bowled the final over and conceded just three runs to finish with an outstanding 1 for 20 haul from his five overs alongside Harries (2 for 31).
 

 

Slow start – but what a finish!

 
Llangwm were unable to raise any sort of tempo at the start of their second innings as Chris Inward departed for a duck and he was soon followed by Andrew Harries, Matthew Kiff and James Venables as Gary Lloyd, Patrick Hannon and Nathan Banner kept things tight. After ten overs the Llangwm total was 36 for 4, still two runs behind and Beresford had been cleverly starved of a chance to shine with only 15 runs in that time.

 
But things changed as Beresford assumed total control, runs flowing from his bat in a productive stand of 99 with Joe Kiff, who cleverly gave the strike to Beresford whilst hitting the loose ball to the fence before he was eventually caught going for a big hit. Beresford survived one chance as he was dropped in the deep but when he finally departed to give Patrick Hannon a five-wicket haul he received a deserved standing ovation for his 114 runs made in only 59 balls, the second 50 coming from only 20 deliveries!
 

Neyland show how to reach a target

 
It meant that Neyland were left to chase a target of 132 for victory, a reasonable tally but far more than might have been expected at one stage. They made a solid start, however, as Gregg Miller and Paul Murray scored 32 runs in five overs before the latter departed for 15. – and another 63 runs came as Miller and Sutton played some good cricket. A heavy shower took the players off for a short time but although Miller was bowled by Chris Inward for 32 there was no stopping Neyland. Sutton reached 43 before he was removed by Andrew Harries and Miller had 20 before he also departed to Brick’s bowling.
 
It was left to Nick Koomen and Nathan Banner to take Neyland to victory by six wickets with ten balls to spare and now seek a coveted treble as the Bowl and the DR Morris Cup are already in their possession – and they head the chase for the league title with only four games to go. For Llangwm they face the disappointment of a double cup defeat against their neighbours and now face a similar period making sure they avoid relegation – but if they play as they did here they should achieve that aim!

 

 

 

PHOTOS:

Neyland celebrate their victory
Gritty runners-up Llangwm
Delighted skipper Gregg Miller
Man of the match Ashley Sutton with adjudicator Joyce Thomas
Will Beresford shows his class
Beresford reaches three figures
Ashley Sutton in good nick
Sutton celebrates his 'ton'