Harrison Allen Bowl semi final:

Neyland (144-3) beat Cresselly (141-8) by 7 wickets

Neyland will contest a third Harrison Allen Bowl final in five seasons after Ashley Sutton inspired them to a semi final win over Cresselly at Lawrenny last night.

Sutton’s knock of 73 not out eased his side home with 14 balls to spare, after Cresselly has been restricted to 141-8 in their 22 overs.

And yet after being put into bat, it was Neilson Cole’s side who made a flying start as opener Brad McDermott-Jenkins went on the attack.

He struck two fours and a six off Nick Koomen as he and Adam Chandler took Cresselly to 20-0 in just two overs.

And although the scoring rate then slowed, McDermott-Jenkins continued to play with intent, and had made 40 of his side’s 54 runs when he was caught on the boundary by Nathan Banner off the spin of Andrew Miller in the eighth over.

His knock included five fours and two sixes.

But the momentum shifted when Simon Cole (1) mishit a Banner (1-22) delivery to Jonty Bennett at mid-wicket, before Iwan Izzard (4) was dismissed by Henry Durrant.

Ryan Lewis (13) cracked a four and a big six before a neat stumping from Luke Ryan, in for the unavailable Sean Hannon, gave Miller (2-26) his second victim.

And when Durrant also removed Nick Davies (2), the 2014 runners up were struggling at 96-5 in the 17th over.

Cresselly hopes now rested with the in-form Chandler, and he moved onto 47 (five fours) before becoming Durrant’s third victim, thanks to a superb diving catch by Scott Jones.

Matthew Morgan (19 not out) did his best to keep the score ticking late on, while Durrant trapped Mike Shaw LBW en route to final figures of 4-36.

Skipper Cole (5) was run out as he tried to push matters in the final over, but in truth, Cresselly’s final total of 141-8 appeared well short of par.

However, Cole’s men got the early wicket they needed in the Neyland and run chase, as his opoosite number Gregg Miller struck two early boundaries before flicking a Sam Harts (1-17) delivery into the hands of McDermott-Jenkins.

But No 3 Sutton was soon in the groove, planting Harts for a six over mid-on.

He and Durrant took the score to 48-1 before a pivotal ninth over, where both batsmen were given a lifeline as difficult chances were put down from Tom Murphy and Lewis respectively.

To rub salt into the wounds, in the same over, Sutton launched bowler Lewis back over his head for six, one of three maximums in his eventual total of nine boundaries.

But Cresselly gave themselves hope when Durrant, who himself had struck a big straight six off Lewis, was bowled by McDermott-Jenkins for 24.

And it was McDermott-Jenkins (2-32) who then reduced Neyland to 100-3, as Banner (11) was also bowled after two quick boundaries.

Sutton then survived a run out scare and new batsman Koomen was fortunate when Murphy was unable to grasp a sharp chance off his own bowling – but after that, the pair comfortably saw Neyland home in the 20th over.

Sutton sealed the win with a lofted four over mid off to finish 73 not out, while Koomen ended up 16 not out (two fours).

It means Miller’s men now face a first ever final meeting with Whitland at Cresselly on Saturday, August 1st, and will be seeking to recapture the trophy they last won in 2013.

But last night’s opponents will have a swift chance to gain revenge, with two teams set to meet again tomorrow in the DR Morris final at Oatfield Park, Burton.

Scorecard:

Cresselly Batting:

Adam Chandler ct Scott Jones b Henry Durrant 47

Brad McDermott-Jenkins ct Nathan Banner b Andrew Miller 40

Simon Cole ct Jonty Bennett b Nathan Banner 1

Iwan Izzard ct Andrew Miller b Henry Durrant 4

Ryan Lewis st Luke Ryan b Andrew Miller 13

Nick Davies ct Nathan Banner b Henry Durrant 2

Matthew Morgan not out 19

Mike Shaw lbw b Henry Durrant 3

Neilson Cole run out 5

Sam Harts not out 0

Extras 7

Total (8 wickets) 141

 

Neyland Bowling: Nathan Banner 6-0-22-1; Nick Koomen 3-0-32-0; Andrew Miller 6-0-36-2; Henry Durrant 5-0-36-4; Scott Jones 2-0-12-0.

 

Neyland Batting:

Gregg Miller ct Brad M-Jenkins b Sam Harts 9

Henry Durrant b Brad M-Jenkins 24

Ashley Sutton not out 73

Nathan Banner b Brad M-Jenkins 11

Nick Koomen not out 16

Extras 11

Total (3 wickets) 144

 

Cresselly Bowling: Sam Harts 3-1-19-1; Tom Murphy 4-0-33-0; Mike Shaw 3-0-14-0; Ryan Lewis 3-0-33-0; Brad McDermott-Jenkins 5-0-32-2; Matthew Morgan 2-0-13-0.

Umpires: Richard Merriman and Steve Blowes.