Neyland (153 for 6 & 147 for 9) beat Cresselly (149 for 8 & 85 all out) by 66 runs

NEYLAND’S recent dominance of the DR Morris Cup continued as they secured a third straight title by beating Cresselly at Oatfield Park, Burton, on Sunday.

After being put into bat, Gregg Miller’s men made 153 for 6 in their first innings, but had a lead of just four runs at tea after Cresselly responded with 149 for 8.

The holders then made 147-9 in the second innings, to set Neilson Cole’s men a seemingly gettable 152 for victory.

But the 2010 winners collapsed to 39 for 8 in their run chase, before eventually being dismissed for 85, giving Neyland the win by 66 runs.

Neyland first innings: 153 for 6

Given the heavy rain the previous evening, it was of little surprise when Cresselly skipper Cole opted to bowl after winning the toss.

And his side came close to an early wicket, as Adam Chandler was inches away from running out Neyland skipper Miller.

But after clipping the game’s first boundary off Ryan Lewis, Miller (11) fell in the fourth over, when he mishit a Tom Murphy (1- 11) delivery straight to Chandler at mid off.

However, in the same over, came a pivotal moment when the in-form Ashley Sutton edged to Harry Thomas at slip, who spilt the sharp chance.

Opener Nathan Banner then began to up the tempo as he hit two leg side boundaries of Lewis in the fifth over, and Sutton was given another lifeline when his drive off Murphy fell just short of Chandler.

The Neyland pair then began to take command, and took 15 off the ninth over, bowled by Mike Shaw, with Sutton crashing the game’s first six over long off.

In the tenth Thomas (1-35) clean bowled Banner, who hit three boundaries in his score of 20, to leave Neyland 58-2.

But Cresselly continued to miss chances in the field, as Sutton was put down by Chandler from Brad McDermott-Jenkins’ first ball, before skipper and keeper Cole, standing up to the stumps, failed to grasp a Koomen nick off Thomas.

Sutton continued to make them pay as he cracked a straight six of McDermott-Jenkins, and in the 14th over, Koomen struck three fours off Thomas to take his side to 101-2.

Sutton was dropped a third time as he lofted McDermott-Jenkins to deep midwicket, but Lewis could only push the ball over the boundary for six.

However, off the very next ball, Sutton’s luck ran out when he again went for a maximum but was caught on the boundary by Thomas for 40 (two fours and three sixes).

That brought Henry Durrant to the crease, and he immediately showed his intent as he hit two fours and a straight six off Simon Cole’s first over, but then fell to McDermott-Jenkins (2-30) as he was caught by Murphy in the covers for 17.

His dismissal seemed to check Neyland’s momentum, although Koomen continued to keep the score ticking with an audacious switch hit for four off Lewis in the 19th over.

The holders went into their final over 150-4, but were only able to add three further runs as Shaw bowled Koomen for 46 (six fours),  and did the same to Patrick Bellerby (3), as the innings closed on 153-6.

Cresselly first innings: 149 for 8

The Cresselly reply started solidly as McDermott-Jenkins grabbed their first boundary in the second over – smashing Gary Lloyd back over his head for four.

But then their earlier missed chances in the field were put into perspective as the same player sliced a Nathan Banner (1-18) delivery into the off side, and Scott Jones ran in from deep cover to take a superb diving catch.

That brought in Matthew Morgan, and he and opener Chandler refused to be phased by the early wicket, regularly picking off boundaries before Morgan nearly went in the ninth over, as Gregg Miller failed to gather a chance above his head off the bowling of brother Andrew.

And Morgan took full advantage, hooking a four of Durrant before hammering a six back over the same bowler’s head.

But following a stand of 63 with Chandler, the young left hander then fell for 37 (four fours and a six) as he pushed for two off Andrew Miller, but was run out after more good work by Jones.

New batsman Iwan Izzard had an early scare when he was dropped by Banner off Lloyd, but it mattered little as in the next over he picked out Jonty Bennett in the deep off Andrew Miller (1-14) for 3.

Chandler continued to accumulate runs, neatly sweeping Lloyd for four, but then in the 15th over was caught by Bellerby on the boundary off Patrick Hannon for 42 (four fours).

That left Cresselly 99-4 before spinner Jones bowled arguably the game’s most eventful over, that yielded 15 runs and a wicket.

After a first ball wide, Lewis launched a six over cow corner, before hammering a drive straight back at Jones (1-27), which the youngster failed to gather.

Keeper Koomen, in behind the stumps for the unavailable Sean Hannon, then missed a stumping chance that resulted in four byes, before Lewis (10) skied a shot to midwicket – that was gathered by Durrant at the second attempt.

Simon Cole finished the over by signalling his intent with a reverse sweep for four, and two overs later, hooked the same bowler over square leg for six.

The penultimate over saw Hannon (2-17) remove Nick Davies (6), caught by skipper Miller, before Thomas (1) was run out, again by the Jones/Koomen combination.

Durrant removed Shaw (0) in the final over, but off the very last ball, Cole (a four and two sixes in his 29 not out) hammered a six over cow corner to take Cresselly to 149-8 – just four runs behind at tea.

Neyland second innings: 147 for 8

The Neyland openers came out determined to take the game away from Cresselly as both Banner and skipper Miller hit boundaries off Lewis’ opening over, before Miller clipped Murphy over square leg for four to take his side to 19-0 in two overs.

But Murphy removed Banner (7) in the fourth over, caught at cover by Simon Cole - and Miller was caught at deep square leg by McDermott-Jenkins off Shaw (1-28) for 27 (three fours).

Indeed, Cresselly’s second innings display in the field was much improved, and both Sutton and Koomen were tied down early on as Neyland laboured somewhat to 49-2 after 10 overs.

But Sutton again appeared the danger man as he launched Cole over his head for six, and then gave Shaw the same treatment as his side accelerated to 81-2 after 13 overs.

Sutton hammered another straight six, this time off Thomas, who then saw Koomen dropped by Morgan off his bowling.

But thankfully for Cresselly, it mattered little as the very next ball, the first of McDermott-Jenkins’ spell, saw Koomen brilliantly caught in the deep by a diving Nick Davies for 21.

In the same over, Sutton struck another maximum before being stumped by Cresselly skipper Neilson Cole for 42 (four sixes and a four).

And when in the 16th over, Andrew Miller (0) was caught by Morgan off Thomas (1-20), Neyland were struggling somewhat on 101-5.

Durrant and Bellerby tried to rebuild matters, as Durrant hit a six and two fours in his quick-fire 23 before being skittled by Murphy (2-31).

And in the 19th over, McDermott-Jenkins secured a haul of 4 for 23 as he had Jonty Bennett (4) caught by Chandler, and Bellerby (two fours in his 11)caught by Simon Cole.

Scott Jones (1) fell in bizarre circumstances in the final over, bowled by Lewis, as he was dropped by Thomas, but then ran out as he pushed for a second run.

One of the loudest cheers of the day then came when Neyland No 11 Lloyd (5 not out) cracked an off drive for four, taking the score to 147-9 – a lead of 151.

Cresselly second innings: 85 all out

However, if Cresselly needed a good start to ease any nerves, they got anything but despite Chandler driving Lloyd for four early on.

In the second over Neyland thought they had the opener out when Koomen gathered a catch down leg side, off the bowling of Banner (1-18). But umpire Arthur Brady ruled the deflection to have come off the hip - only to give him LBW the following ball for 5.

And it got worse for Cresselly when Morgan and McDermott-Jenkins pushed for an unlikely two, and again the fielding of Jones came to the fore when his throw to Koomen saw McDermott-Jenkins (1) ran out.

The decision seemed to anger the Cresselly dressing room, who felt Koomen had knocked the bails off before gathering the ball, and their frustration then increased when Simon Cole (2) was caught behind off Lloyd.

Morgan and Izzard tentatively took the score to 26-3 but then in the seventh over, Lloyd (3-14) all but settled matters.

He had Morgan (11) caught at point by Bellerby, and then bowled Shaw first ball – but he was unable to grab a memorable hat-trick as Izzard stayed firm.

Durrant then got in on the act, taking two wickets in his first over as Izzard (10) skied a catch to Jones, and Thomas (3) nicked to Koomen to leave Cresselly reeling on 36-7.

That became 39-8 in Durrant’s (3-27) next over, the 11th of the innings, as he took a return catch of Davies (0).

Lewis and skipper Cole tried to restore pride with some late hitting, but after launching Hannon for a maximum, the skipper was caught behind by Koomen off the same bowler for 10.

Lewis went onto make 30 not out, with two big sixes and a four, but in the 18th over, a contest that for large parts of the day appeared on a knife edge succumbed to the inevitable.

And like in 2014, it was Bellerby (1-5) who had the final word, as he bowled Murphy for 8 (two fours) to seal a third successive DR Morris Cup for Neyland, and complete a superb weekend for the club after they beat the same opposition on Friday night to win through to the Harrison Allen Bowl final against Whitland.

Post-match reaction:

Afterwards, Neyland skipper Miller told Telegraph Sport he was pleased with his side’s display after losing what he felt was an important toss.

“I was worried we hadn’t set them enough,” he admitted.

“I was hoping for a bigger lead at tea, but the way Simon Cole batted at the end of their first innings really left things in the balance.

“But we were excellent in the field, especially in that final innings. I think they let the run out decision get to them a bit and we took advantage.

“Cresselly are a good side and we knew today would be tough, so I’m delighted to have won the Duggie for the third time in a row.”

Miller’s opposite number, Neilson Cole, was disappointed after saying his side were backing themselves to chase 152.

“We let ourselves down with the way we batted in our second innings,” he said.

“Even when we were five down we still felt it was makeable, but no one took responsibility and that’s disappointing.

“We bowled well but dropped catches cost us, especially putting down Ashley Sutton three times. Neyland were excellent in the field and that was the big difference today – and that’s one of the reasons they have been so successful.”

In the post-match presentations Tony Scourfield, Chairman of Pembroke County Cricket Club, congratulated both sides on making the final, and expressed his thanks to sponsors Jane and Graham Morris, Brian Griffiths and his team at Burton Cricket Club, the umpires and scorers, and Winston and Beryl Griffiths, who sponsored the man of the match award.

And after Neyland and skipper Miller collected their winner’s medals and the DR Morris Cup, Bill Carne announced Ashley Sutton as the man of the match for the second successive final.

It brought the curtain down on the first major Pembrokeshire cricket final of the summer, and one which, for three innings at least, was far more competitive than the final outcome suggests.

 

Scorecard:

 

First innings:

Neyland Batting:

Gregg Miller ct Adam Chandler b Tom Murphy 11

Nathan Banner b Henry Thomas 16

Ashley Sutton ct Harry Thomas b Brad McDermott-Jenkins 40

Nick Koomen b Mike Shaw 46

Henry Durrant ct Tom Murphy b Brad McDermott-Jenkins 17

Andrew Miller not out 1

Extras 11

Total (6 wickets) 153

 

Cresselly Bowling:

Ryan Lewis 4-0-28-0; Tom Murphy 4-0-11-1; Mike Shaw 3-0-25-2;

Harry Thomas 4-0-35-1; Brad McDermott-Jenkins 4-0-30-2; Simon Cole 2-0-17-0

 

Cresselly Batting:

Brad McDermott-Jenkins ct Scott Jones b Nathan Banner 6

Adam Chandler ct Patrick Bellerby b Patrick Hannon 42

Matthew Morgan run out 37

Iwan Izzard ct Jonty Bennett b Andrew Miller 3

Ryan Lewis ct Henry Durrant b Scott Jones 10

Simon Cole not out 29

Nick Davies ct Gregg Miller b Patrick Hannon 6

Harry Thomas run out 1

Mike Shaw ct Gregg Miller b Henry Durrant 0

Neilson Cole not out 1

Extras 16

Total (8 wickets) 149

 

Neyland Bowling: Nathan Banner 4-0-18-1; Gary Lloyd 4-0-34-0; Patrick Hannon 3-0-17-2; Andrew Miller 3-0-14-1; Scott Jones 2-0-27-1; Henry Durrant 4-0-38-1

 

Second innings:

 

Neyland Batting:

Gregg Miller ct Brad McDermott-Jenkins b Mike Shaw 27

Nathan Banner ct Simon Cole b Tom Murphy 7

Ashley Sutton st Neilson Cole b Brad McDermott-Jenkins 42

Nick Koomen ct Nick Davies b Brad McDermott-Jenkins 21

Henry Durrant b Tom Murphy 23

Andrew Miller ct Matthew Morgan b Harry Thomas 0

Patrick Bellerby ct Simon Cole b Brad McDermott-Jenkins 11

Jonty Bennett ct Adam Chandler b Brad McDermott-Jenkins 4

Scott Jones run out 1

Patrick Hannon not out 3

Gary Lloyd not out 5

Extras 3

Total (9 wickets) 147

Cresselly Bowling: 

Tom Murphy 4-0-31-2; Brad McDermott-Jenkins 3-0-23-4; Mike Shaw 4-0-28-1; Simon Cole 3-0-16-0; Harry Thomas 2-0-20-1; Ryan Lewis 4-0-28-0

Cresselly Batting:

Adam Chandler lbw b Nathan Banner 5

Brad McDermott-Jenkins run out 1

Matthew Morgan ct Patrick Bellerby b Gary Lloyd 11

Simon Cole st Nick Koomen b Gary Lloyd 2

Iwan Izzard ct Scott Jones b Henry Durrant 10

Mike Shaw b Gary Lloyd 0

Harry Thomas ct Nick Koomen b Henry Durrant 3

Ryan Lewis not out 30

Nick Davies ct & b Henry Durrant 0

Neilson Cole ct Nick Koomen b Patrick Hannon 10

Tom Murphy b Patrick Bellerby 8

Extras 5

Total (all out) 85

 

Neyland Bowling:

Nathan Banner 4-1-18-1; Gary Lloyd 4-0-14-3; Henry Durrant 4-0-27-3; Patrick Hannon  4-0-12-1, Scott Jones 2-0-12-0

 

Umpires: Arthur Brady & Dai Morris

Scorers: John Laugharne & Selwyn Cole

Venue: Oatfield Park, Burton

 

Man of the Match adjudicators: Bill Carne & Fraser Watson

Man of the Match: Ashley Sutton (Neyland)