Harrison Allen Bowl final: Cresselly 31-1 v Lawrenny in 5.5 overs - Match Abandoned

THIS weekend, it wasn’t to be.

Following heavy overnight rain, further showers on Saturday morning delayed the start of the 2018 Harrison Allen Bowl final between Cresselly and Lawrenny, and when play did get underway, the players were out for just 5.5 overs before a storm of almost biblical proportions ended matters.

With the forecast for the following day also bleak, organisers soon took the sensible decision to postpone the final until next Sunday, August 5.

It was Lawrenny skipper Joe Kidney who had earlier won the toss and opted to bowl, but Dan Sutton got The Doves off to a good start as he twice cut Rob Williams to the fence in the opening over.

He and Adam Chandler added six off Jamie Lewis in the second over and another seven of Williams in the third to give their side a god start at 21-0.

But it was then the tide turned, as Sutton (17) hit another four from Lewis full toss - but two balls later set off for a risky single after pulling to Ryan Morton at square leg, and after being sent back by Chandler, failed to recover in time as Lawrenny keeper James Phillips took off the bails.

That left matters 26-1 and batting then became tricky as rain began to fall, and new man Iwan Izzard and Chandler added just five more before the umpires were left with little option but to take the players off.

And some lashing rain and hail stones later, the home ground staff, who led by Richard Arthur had worked tirelessly throughout the morning, were then faced with an impossible task of removing excess water from the square and the outfield, and Richard Merriman announced on the microphone that play was to be abandoned.

It meant disappointment for the sizeable crowd that had already began to gather at Cresselly, but few could argue with the call - and Richard Scriven helped see the funny side of things as he played a number of rain related hits from his ‘DJ booth’ on the boundary.

Attention now turns to Sunday, and both Kidney and opposite number Neilson Cole have said the new date won’t have any affect on their player availability - with Lawrenny's Rob Williams an Steve Lewis planning to return early from their duties on a junior cricket tour to be involved.

Umpire Steve Blowes meanwhile, who was also due to be away, will be making an early Sunday morning journey back from Somerset to take his place in the middle.

Cresselly: Neilson Cole (captain), Iwan Izzard, Adam Chandler, Dan Sutton, Alex Bayley, Simon Cole, Ryan Lewis, Dan James, Mike Shaw, Tom Arthur, Dan Cherry, Sion Jenkins (12th), Sam Harts (13th).

Lawrenny: Joe Kidney (captain), Brad McDermott-Jenkins, James Phillips, Rob Williams, Jamie Lewis, Ryan Morton, Simon Cole, Patrick Elliott, Ian Jenkins, Harry Thomas, Steve Lewis, Phil Cole (12th), Matthew Lewis (13th).

Umpires: Steve Blowes and Allan Hansen.
Scorers: Teagan Cartwright and Malcolm Thomas.