Neyland (162-4 and 81-2) beat Llangwm (124 all out and 116 all out) by eight wickets

NEYLAND can celebrate a first Duggie Morris cup win since 1994 after comfortably overcoming Llangwm at Oatfield Park, Burton.

Gregg Miller’s men, who are currently top of division one and will again play Llangwm in the Harrison Allen Bowl final on August 3rd, will now harbour genuine hopes of completing a unique domestic treble.

Miller’s men began the day as clear favourites but after winning the toss, they were on the back foot early on thanks to some destructive batting from Andrew Harries.

Neyland spinner Gary Lloyd bowled the dangerous Will Beresford for a duck in the second over, before number three Harries took centre stage. In a partnership of 68 with Chris Inward, he made 50 off just 23 deliveries, including seven fours and three sixes, to leave his side superbly placed on 69-1 after just eight overs.

But then came a critical over. First Inward (10) spooned a catch to Patrick Bellerby off the bowling of Lloyd, and the very next ball Harries holed out to Andrew Miller on the boundary. Lloyd completed a double wicket maiden to firmly shift the momentum in his side’s favour.
Miller himself then bowled Joseph Kiff (2), and after Matthew Kiff (5) was run out, Miller dismissed James Venables (7) to leave Llangwm struggling on 87-6.

Skipper Jonathan Twigg (7) fell to Nick Koomen, and then had to look on as his side lost their remaining three wickets in their final over. Richard Brock (14) was run out by Ashley Sutton, and Koomen removed Darren Brick (7) and Chris Thomas (11).

It meant that Twigg’s men fell to 124 all out, a disappointing total given their quickfire start.
For Neyland, Patrick Hannon finished with 0-17, Lloyd 3-12, Miller 2-11, Nathan Banner 0-25 and Koomen 3-47.

Openers Gregg Miller and Paul Murray then went on the offensive, and took their side to 72-0 in the eleventh over before Murray was bowled by Matthew Kiff for 39. His innings included four fours and a six.

Miller went on to make 46 before he was stumped by Beresford off the bowling of Phil Llewellyn. His knock included two fours and a six. Ashley Sutton made 20 before being dismissed by Darren Brick.

But it was Andrew Miller who really put Neyland in the ascendancy in the 18th over. With the score on 114-2, he hit Llewellyn for three consecutive boundaries before hammering a straight six followed by another four. He finished the over with a single to make 23 off just six balls.
Inward bowled Koomen (4) in the final over, but Patrick Hannon (12 not out) and Miller took Neyland  to 162-4, a lead of 38. Llangwm frustration was compounded when they conceded four overthrows from the final ball of innings.

Miller finished 28 not out (fours fours and a six).

For Llangwm, Brick finished with 1-27, Inward 1-42, Brock 0-19, Harries 0-19, Matthew Kiff 1-17 and Llewellyn 1-35.

They needed quick runs in their reply with the bat, and opener Beresford was given a reprieve in the second over when Neyland keeper Sean Hannon spilt a difficult chance off brother Patrick’s bowling.

Lloyd trapped Inward (12) LBW in the fifth over, before the dangerous Harries (1) was caught on the boundary by Patrick Hannon off the bowling of Banner to leave LLangwm 33-2.

But Beresford, who made 114 in the Harrison Allen semi final last week, gave his side hope with a half century. But after hitting a six and two fours off Andrew Miller in the 11th over, he inadvertently stood on his stumps when trying to play a leg glance. His knock of 51 included six fours and a six.

It was a cruel blow and it proved decisive as the Llangwm middle and lower order collapsed. James  Venables made 13 and skipper Twigg hit two fours and a six in his innings of 20, but his side were dismissed for 116, a lead of just 78.

For Neyland, Lloyd took 1-25, Hannon 2-24, Banner 1-17, Miller 3-26 and Koomen 1-19.
Llangwm needed early wickets in Neyland’s final innings and they were given a glimmer of hope when Darren Brick trapped Paul Murray (2) LBW. Harries then had Gregg Miller caught by Brick to leave Neyland 32-2.

But any tension was then removed as Sutton and Andrew Miller batted steadily to ease Neyland home in the 14th over, and it was Miller who finished things off with a boundary off Richard Brock. He finished 19 not out (two fours) while Sutton ended on 43 not out (two sixes and three fours).

Andrew Miller was adjudged man of the match, but skipper Gregg was quick to praise a team effort.

“It was a good team performance,” he said.

“We wanted to keep wickets in hand in the first innings, and then the way Andrew played in the final few overs really set us up well.

“We then wanted to keep things tight when they batted again, and make them work hard to overtake our score.”

Miller however, said he didn’t think the result would have any bearing on the Harrison Allen final in two weeks: “That will be a different occasion and a very tough game.”

His opposite number Jonathan Twigg was dignified in defeat: “Neyland were excellent in every innings today.

“We had a good start but unfortunately lost momentum in our first innings after Andrew (Harries) was out.

“But we have a lot of belief and we are a committed squad. We have a big day coming up in two weeks time and we are looking for it.

“We have things to work on before then and we will work on them.”

Umpires: Dave Brandon and Les Hastings.
Scorers: John Laugharne and Janice Brick.