Clive Huxley Ladies Cup final: Hook (115-3) and 112-6) beat Burton (117-6 and 104-6) by 6 runs

Two half centuries from skipper Sam Rossiter helped Hook to the Clive Huxley Ladies Cup on Sunday as they overcame Burton by just 6 runs in a closely contested final in Stackpole.

Trailing by two runs at tea, Rossiter made 67 to go with her earlier knock of 60, as Hook set Burton 111 to win in their final innings.

And in a tense finale, they came up narrowly short on 104-6, despite a valiant 46 not out from Ffion Ashman.

After being put into bat, it was Rossiter and opening partner Jemma Phillips who got Hook off to a great start, putting on 55 for the opening wicket before the latter was bowled by Rhiannon Morgan for 24.

That prompted Rossiter to accelerate the rate and she pushed on to finish 67 not out in the 20 overs to take her side to 115-3, with Morgan going on to take 3-16 from her four overs as she also removed Leanne Jones (8) and Alice Sturgeon (1).

In Burton’s response it was their own captain, Finola Scale, who carried the fight, as the opener struck seven boundaries en route to 55 - and only lost her wicket when she was run out in the 20th over.

The middle order struggled for runs but No 7 Morgan helped boost the total with a vital 20, as Burton finished 117-6 to take a slender two run lead at tea.

For Hook, wickets fell to Sturgeon (2-11), Jones (1-10), Kath Adams (1-19), Maisy Davies (1-11), and Kasey Arran (1-10).

So it was still all to play for in the second innings, and again Rossiter took the lead role for Hook as she made 60, including eight fours, before being trapped LBW to Ashman (2-16).

There was also a wicket for Olivia James (1-23), but again it was Morgan who caused real problems as she took a brilliant 3-9 to leave Hook 91-6.

But then came what proved a crucial partnership of 21 between Hayley Thomas and Davies, with Thomas hitting three fours as she made 21 not out, and Davies batted sensibly for 3 not out as Burton were set a tricky, but gettable, 111 to win.

They reached 20-0 before Lily Thomas was lbw to Leanne Jones for 15 (three fours), and Adams crucially bowled Scale (4).

But then came a 50 partnership between Ashman and Morgan, with the latter making 21 (three fours) before she was LBW to Arran, and then the pendulum swung Hook’s way as Llewella Scale (4) was run out, and Adams clean bowled Morgan (2).

In the meantime, Ashman continued to work the ball around, and her and James entered the final over on 99-5, needing 12 to win.

But after bowling a wide, Davies kept her cool to have James (2) caught by Rossiter, and Ashman and Anna Ridge (1 not out) were only able to scramble four more runs as Burton finished seven short of their winning target.

It left Ashman 46 not out (five fours), while for Hook, Adams finished with 2-17, Jones 1-20, Arran 1-9, and Davies 1-14.

It meant for the second successive year, it was Hook who overcame their near neighbours to claim the annual Clive Huxley trophy, with Rossiter awarded the Player of the Match award by adjudicators Rob and Chloe Lewis (Lawrenny Cricket Club).

But both sides deserve credit for again producing an absorbing final that went down to the wire.

Umpires: Phil Tallett and Mervyn John.

Scorers: Joy James and Elaine Scale.

SCORECARD:

FIRST INNINGS:

Hook Ladies’ Batting:

Sam Rossiter not out 67

Jemma Phillips b Rhiannon Morgan 24

Leanne Jones b Rhiannon Morgan 8

Alice Sturgeon lbw b Rhiannon Morgan 1

Kasey Arran not out 6

Extras 9

Total (3 wickets) 115

Burton Ladies’ Bowling: Olivia James 4-0-16-0; Lily Thomas 4-0-17-0; Anna Ridge 2-0-16-0; Ffion Ashman 2-0-13-0; Wella Scale 2-0-16-0; Rhiannon Morgan 4-0-26-3; Finola Scale 2-0-7-0

Burton Ladies’ Batting:

Finola Scale run out 57

Lily Thomas ct Jemma Phillips b Kath Huxley 4

Rhiannon Morgan b Leanne Jones 6

Ffion Ashman b Alice Thomas 8

Wella Scale b Alice Thomas 7

Olivia James ct Jemma Phillips b Kasey Arran 0

Rebecca Jones ct Sam Rossiter b Maisy Davies 20

Anna Ridge not out 0

Extras 15

Total (6 wickets) 117

Hook Ladies’ Bowling: Kath Adams 4-1-19-1; Leanne Jones 4-0-10-1; Alice Sturgeon 3-1-11-2; Kasey Arran 3-0-20-1; Hayley Thomas 3-0-31-0; Maisy Davies 3-0-19-0

SECOND INNINGS:

Hook Ladies’ Batting:

Sam Rossiter lbw b Ffion Ashman 60

Jemma Phillips b Olivia James 6

Leanne Jones ct Ffion Ashman b Rhiannon Morgan 7

Alice Thomas ct Finola Scale b Rhiannon Morgan 0

Kasey Arran b Ffion Ashman 4

Kath Adams ct Lily Thomas b Rhiannon Morgan 1

Hayley Thomas not out 21

Maisy Davies not out 3

Extras 10

Total (6 wickets) 112

Burton Ladies’ Bowling: Olivia James 4-0-23-1; Lily Thomas 4-0-19-0; Ffion Ashman 4-0-16-2; Rhiannon Morgan 4-0-17-3; Wella Scale 2-0-19-0; Anna Ridge 1-0-7-0; Finola Scale 1-0-9-0

Burton Ladies’ Batting:

Finola Scale b Kath Adams 4

Lily Thomas lbw b Leanne Thomas 15

Ffion Ashman not out 46

Rhiannon Morgan lbw b Kasey Arran 21

Wella Scale run out 4

Rebecca Jones ct Sam Rossiter b Kath Adams 2

Olivia James ct Sam Rossiter b Maisy Davies 2

Anna Ridge not out 1

Extras 9

Total (6 wickets) 104

Hook Ladies’ Bowling: Kath Adams 4-0-14-2; Leanne Jones 4-0-29-1; Jemma Phillips 1-0-9-0; Kasey Arran 4-0-17-1; Alice Thomas 4-1-19-0; Maisy Davies 3-0-14-1