Harrison-Allen Bowl Final:

Cresselly (194 for 3 & 149 for 6) beat Lawrenny (146 for 9 & 173 for 9) by 25 runs

Cresselly are the 2018 Harrison-Allen Bowl winners after an absorbing clash with near neighbours Lawrenny where play was always ferociously competitive but within the spirit of the game as the mutual respect in which the teams held each other was evident from the very outset.

Considering the fact that the final has been abandoned eight days earlier there was a good crowd at Cresselly’s immaculate ground, with good weather perhaps a key factor, as was the number of children there as positive proof of the family atmosphere enjoyed in both camps.

Lawrenny forced to field with ten men

Lawrenny won the toss and elected to field first, a move that mystified some pundits since key player Brad McDermott-Jenkins was still on his way back from a charity 'Three Peaks' challenge that ended in North Wales before he could make his way back to play.

 Sadly, he was unable to arrive before Cresselly had ended their first innings on a massive total of 194 for 3 wickets - and there was more trouble as Cresselly 'spin twins' Mike Shaw and Ryan Lewis reduced them to a catastrophic 3 for 3 after only two overs!

Cresselly had also suffered an early blow after Dan Sutton smashed the first ball for a boundary through mid-wicket but was bowled neck and crop by Rob Williams two deliveries later.

He was replaced by Iwan Izzard, who looked in imperious form as he stroked four boundaries in his 23 before he was dismissed in the worst possible fashion as a Chandler straight drive was deflected onto the stumps by Williams with Izzard out of his crease.

Dan Cherry also looked in good nick but after two fours in his 18 he was bowled by Jamie Lewis with the score on 56 for in the tenth over to keep Lawrenny spirits high.

Chandler and Bayley control pace well

Chandler was clearly designated as anchor man as he only managed seven singles in the first ten overs but Alex Bayley provided the necessary impulsion with an innings of genuine quality mixed with raw power.

He smashed 25 runs from Ryan Morton's only over, including two sixes, one from a free hit from a no-ball he had also belted for no ball!

Simon ‘Chief’ Cole swapped ends to try and use his experience but he suffered heavily to the short clubhouse boundary as he departed for 66 from his five overs, with Harry Thomas bowling well at the longer schoolhouse end with 0 for 27 in four overs.

Chandler showed his cricket brain as he joined Bayley in increasing the tempo in the final third of the innings, not only giving Bayley the strike at every opportunity but cleverly accelerating at just the right time to end with 57 not out at a run a ball, including seven fours.

Bayley ended up with an undefeated 79 that contained six fours and six sixes, some through long off that would grace any game – and Cresselly had amassed a massive 194 for 3.

Three ducks as Lawrenny start badly but battle back

It left Lawrenny under real pressure and early events when they batted left Lawrenny deeper in bother as Alex Bailey caught Simon 'Chief' Cole off Ryan Lewis, who bowled Patrick Elliott, whilst at the other end Ryan Shaw trapped Steve Lewis, all without scoring, and Cresselly's slow bowlers had paid back skipper Neilson Cole's faith in them to open the attack.

It says much for Lawrenny's resilience that they fought back through James Phillips and Harry Thomas, who played some great shots as they added 92 runs by the 15th over - but then a total mix-up in calling for a single saw Phillips run out for an excellent 39 that included five fours and two sixes.

Lawrenny captain Joe Kidney belted a big straight six but then tried a risky single and a direct hit by Dan Sutton saw him run out for 10.

But Thomas looked a class act with some superb stroke player that saw him reach 50 in 47 balls, with six fours and four sixes before he eventually fell to Dan James for 70, with a flick over mid- wicket for a maximum as a shot to savour.

Lawrenny eventually managed 146 for 9 in their allotted 22 overs but that meant a 48-run deficit at the tea interval, with Cresselly looking to extend that lead and put the game beyond their neighbours’ reach.

More Cresselly runs but fallow spells too

Cresselly made a relatively cautious start to their second innings with only six runs from their first two overs but then Dan Sutton and Adam Chandler accelerated nicely to 61 before the latter hit a full toss from Brad McDermott-Jenkins straight to Harry Thomas having scored 21, including two boundaries.

It was the start of another relatively fallow spell for Cresselly as Thomas bowled Sutton for 39 (five fours) and Izzard departed for only three to a low return catch by McDermott-Jenkins – and their 90 for 3 in 15 overs soon became 98 for 5 when the dangerous Bayley (10) was adjudged LBW to Harry Thomas and Ryan Lewis had his stumps castled to McDermott-Jenkins without troubling the scorers.

But then the class of Dan Cherry shone through as he stroked six boundaries and a maximum in his undefeated 48 in a useful stand with Simon Cole (10) that took Cresselly to 149 for 6 – perhaps fewer runs than skipper Neilson Cole would have hoped for but still setting Lawrenny a challenging target of 198 to win.

Mountainous target – and another disappointing Lawrenny start

That target assumed mountainous proportions as Lawrenny lost openers Simon ‘Chief’ Cole and James Phillips to spinner Shaw and they stood at 38 for 4 as only Steve Lewis (21) looked settled until he was well caught by Bayley off Tom Arthur, who quickly bowled Patrick Elliot for a duck.

But Harry Thomas (16) and skipper Kidney performed a rescue act before Thomas fell to another good catch by Simon Cole in the deep and Morton soon followed to the same bowler after launching one big six.

There was still fight aplenty in Lawrenny’s camp, however, as skipper Kidney was joined by McDermott-Jenkins, batting very low at No 8 for such an influential player, with Kidney smashing five sixes in his 48 before he attempted one big hit too many and was bowled by Sutton, who ended up with 4 for 46 when he also bowled Rob Williams.

McDermott-Jenkins showed his batting power with five fours and three sixes, the last of them from the final ball of the match to give him an undefeated 52.

SCORECARD:

FIRST INNINGS:

Cresselly Batting

Dan Sutton b Rob Williams 4

Adam Chandler not out 57

Iwan Izzard run out 23

Dan Cherry b Jamie Phillips 18

Alex Bayley not out 79

Extras 13

Total (3 wickets) 194

Lawrenny Bowling:

Rob Williams 6-0-28-1; Jamie Lewis 6-0-43-1; Simon Cole 5-0-66-0; Ryan Morton 1-0-25-0; Harry Thomas 4-0-27-0

Lawrenny Batting:

Simon Cole ct Alex Bayley b Ryan Lewis 0

James Phillips run out 39

Steve Lewis lbw b Mike Shaw 0

Patrick Elliott b Ryan Lewis 0

Harry Thomas b Dan James 70

Joe Kidney run out 10

Brad McDermott-Jenkins b Mike Shaw 2

Ryan Morton b Dan Cherry 4

Rob Williams b Dan Cherry 7

Ian Jenkins not out 3

Jamie Lewis not out 2

Extras 9

Total (9 wickets) 146

Cresselly Bowling:

Ryan Lewis 4-0-28-2; Mike Shaw 6-1-26-2; Tom Arthur 3-0-26-0; Dan James 5-0-32-1; 4-0-30-2

SECOND INNINGS:

Cresselly Batting:

Dan Sutton b Harry Thomas 38

Adam Chandler ct Harry Thomas b Brad McDermott-Jenkins 27

Iwan Izzard ct & b Brad McDermott-Jenkins 3

Alex Bayley lbw b Harry Thomas 10

Dan Cherry not out 48

Ryan Lewis b Brad McDermott-Jenkins 0

Simon Cole run out 10

Dan James not out 2

Extras 11

Total 6 wickets) 149

Lawrenny Bowling:

Jamie Lewis 5-0-31-0; Rob Williams 4-0-23-0; Brad McDermott-Jenkins 6-0-29-3; Harry Thomas 5-0-58-2; Ryan Morton 2-0-11-0

Lawrenny Batting:

Simon Cole ct Simon Cole b Mike Shaw 6

James Phillips b Mike Shaw 2

Steve Lewis ct Alex Bailey b Tom Arthur 21

Patrick Elliott b Tom Arthur 4

Harry Thomas ct Simon Cole b Dan Sutton 16

Joe Kidney b Dan Sutton 48

Ryan Morton b Dan Sutton 11

Brad McDermott-Jenkins not out 52

Rob Williams ct Simon Cole b Dan Sutton 1

Ian Jenkins run out 0

Jamie Lewis not out 7

Extras 5

Total (9 wickets) 173

Cresselly Bowling:

Ryan Lewis 2-0-17-0; Mike Shaw 4-0-22-2; Tom Arthur 4-0-30-2; Dan James 6-0-36-0; Dan Cherry 2-0-22-0; Dan Sutton 4-0-46-4

Umpires: Allan Hansen & Steve Blowes

Scorers: Teagan Cartwright & Malcolm Thomas

Man of the Match winner: Alex Bayley (Cresselly)

Man of the Match adjudicators: David & Hywel Gibbs

Sponsors: Thomas Scourfield & Sons

Final thoughts

So Cresselly were victorious by 25 runs and a relieved Neilson Cole said afterwards that he wasn’t at all surprised by Lawrenny’s gritty display and complimented the support he had received from his team and club, the officials, groundsmen and a terrific crowd, especially the number of children who clearly enjoyed a great day out.

It was a view echoed by opposite number Joe Kidney, who also thanked his team mates and everyone at the club who had given such amazing support.

Paul Webb, the county club chairman, gave his usual polished presentation in thanking officials, sponsors, ground staff, county club committee members and everyone else who had contributed to a smashing day out where cricket was the ultimate winner.

The trophy-presenting duties were shared by Mike Scourfield, of Thomas Scourfield & Sons, and Hugh Harrison-Allen, who not only presented the magnificent Bowl but the sparkling new replica of this valuable silverware which the clubs will keep for their year as champions.

The father and son duo of David and Hywel Gibbs then announced the winner of the man of the match award and after picking out the main candidates there was loud applause when Hywel announced that Alex Bayley was the winner.