PHOTOS:
Haverfordwest Blue Lightning
Cleddau Crusaders
The first ball bowled in T20 cricker by Crusader's Callum James
Cleddau Crusaders (123 for 7) lost to Haverfordwest Blue Lightning (145 for 7)
Venue: Hook Sports Ground:
Umpires: Alistair Platten/Rob Owen & Simon Williams
Scorer: Joy James
An excellent undefeated 52 by skipper Nitin Mathias helped Haverfordwest Blue Lightning seal victory over Cleddau Crusaders in the entertaining inaugural under 19s T20 match played at Hook.
Both teams played their part in launching the T20 programme with some big hits and some superb fielding typified by the catching and general boundary work of the Lightning’s Jake Merry but it was the class of Mathias which stood out as he stroked five fours and a big six before he had to retire, under the laws of this new competition.
Razzmatazz aplenty
The bowling was less impressive as nerves seemed to kick in because of the big crowd but there were 54 wides conceded, including 34 by the victors!
The Crusaders are an amalgam of Hook and Llangwm players – and it is to Hook CC’s credit that they helped launch the programme in style, with lots of razzmatazz that included players announced on to the pitch with music played to fit each occasion, like a big hit or a wicket falling, and laminated cards supplied to raise when boundaries were hit.
There was a bouncy castle, an interval dance routine from Unison Dance Group, Milford Haven, and the beef burgers and hot dogs were sold out!
Asked to bat first, the Blue Lightning had an early 30 from Jordan Howell (five fours) and a shared second-wicket stand of 67 with Nitin Mathias before he popped up a catch to Jacob Lay off Elgan Roberts’ bowling.
George Thomas also clouted 17 before he fell to the Crusaders’ captain Phil Llewellyn, whose immaculate line and length earned him figures of 3 for 22. Toby Asson also bowled well in his 2 for 17 alongside Callum James (1 for 16).
Crusaders suffer setbacks
The Crusaders suffered early setbacks when they batted as Lightning pace bowler Owen Jones clean bowled Toby Asson and Noah Davies with only ten runs on the board but Jacob Lay and Phil Llewellyn launched the counter-attack in a stand of 63.
At this stage a close-run match seemed on the cards but Lay fell for 28 (three fours and a six) and Llewellyn followed a little later for 27 (five fours) as Jake Merry (1 for 20) and Howell (2 for 15) made the vital break through.
Jonathan Clout belted a big six and a four from successive balls but departed for 13 and there was 10 not out by Elgan Roberts but the Lightning were eventual winners of an absorbing clash on an entertaining evening.
Scorecard:
Haverfordwest Blue Lightning Batting:
Dan Cole ct Morgan Hughes b Callum James 8
Jordan Howell ct Jacob Lay b Elgan Roberts 30
Nitin Mathias retired 52
Kieran O’Connor b Toby Asson 8
George Thomas b Phil Llewellyn 17
Mark Stobbs b Toby Asson 0
Jake Merry lbw b Phil Llewellyn 0
Archie Thomas b Phil Llewellyn 2
Owen Jones not out 1
Jack Scriven not out 7
Extras 20
Total (7 wickets) 145
Cleddau Warriors Bowling:
Callum James 4-0-16-1; Noah Davies 3-0-23-0; George John 2-0-22-0; Phil Llewellyn 3-0-22-3; Elgan Roberts 4-0-13-1; Toby Asson 4-1-17-2
Cleddau Warriors Batting:
Toby Asson b Archie Thomas 5
Noah Davies b Archie Thomas 3
Jacob Lay b Jake Merry 28
Phil Llewellyn ct Nitin Mathias b Jordan Howell 27
Jonathan Clout b Owen Jones 13
Callum James ct Dan Cole b Jordan Howell 3
Elgan Roberts not out 10
Iwan Griffiths ct Jake Merry b Dan James 1
Morgan Hughes not out 0
Extras 34
Total (7 wickets) 124
Haverfordwest Blue Lightning Bowling:
Owen Jones 3-0-14-1; Archie Thomas 4-0-24-2; Jonathan White 3-0-21-0; Jake Merry 2-0-20-1; Jordan Howell 4-1-15-2; Dan James 4-0-30-1
