Alan Brown Cup Final:
Llanrhian (179 for 2 & 102 for 5) beat Stackpole (165 for 6 & 115 for 7) by 5 wickets
Umpires: Ian Milsom & Neil Thomas
Scorers: Jason Cole & Phil Tallett
Venue: Whitland Cricket Club
Man of the Match: Jonathan Strawbridge (Llanrhian)
Llanrhian were able to celebrate a hat-trick of wins in the Alan Brown Cup Final as they beat old rivals Stackpole in a terrific contest at Whitland, who battled hard to get the game played in wet conditions after a much-delayed start and so inevitably a far later finish than usual.Stackpole batted first and made what appeared to be a big score but a powerhouse innings by Jonathan Strawbridge ensured a 13-run interval lead for Llanrhian and after restricting Simon Bevan’s side to just over three figures in the second innings reached their target with five overs and five wickets still in hand.
Strawbridge was awarded the man of the match trophy and it was appropriate that Nigel Delaney should raise the trophy aloft because he featured in all that Llanrhian did and certainly led by example throughout.
Stackpole recover from a dreadful start
Stackpole got off to an awful start as they lost openers Alan Webster and John Williams without scoring as Delaney and Fraser Watson took good catches – but Lewys Gibby and James Adie led their recovery in a stand of 90 before Adie was bowled for an excellent 32 and Gibby was in top form as he amassed a classy 80 (12 fours and a six) before he was stumped by Richard Reed as part of Tom Clarke’s 2 for 20 haul.
Yori Roberts chipped in with a late 26 not out and with 12 extras Stackpole reached 165 for 6 despite the bowling efforts of Clarke, Jack Jones (1 for 16 in five overs), Chris Arundel (1 for 30) and Delaney (1 for 36)
Strawbridge leads Llanrhian charge
In sharp contrast to the opposition’s disappointing start, Llanrhian’s response had its booster jets on from the outset as Strawbridge looked dangerous from the first over and Paul Lewis provided the ideal foil by taking singles as often as possible to afford the powerhouse-hitter the chance to scatter the field.
They shared a 50 partnership in the seventh over and moved sweetly on to three figures after only 10 overs – and batting chaos prevailed until the 15th over, when the score stood at 132, and with Strawbridge looking a certainty for his first-ever century as he had 8 fours and 3 sixes in his 97.
But then Bevan bowled him an a innocuous full toss, Strawbridge misjudged his shot and found James Adie as the only man anywhere near deep mid-wicket and able to take a well- judged catch!
Paul Lewis (38) batted for much of the innings before Jack Jones (24) and Nigel Delaney (11) were the not out batsmen at the end of the innings, which ended on 179 for 2, a lead of 13 but which looked likely to be even more at one stage.
James boosts Stackpole hopes with fine knock
Stackpole were desperate for a better start to their second innings but spare a thought for John Williams, such an influential run-maker on his day, who was caught by Delaney off Tom Clarke for his second duck, with Webster departing soon after and first-innings hero Gibby also caught by the Llanrhian skipper for only 5 runs, both to the lively Jack Jones.
But James Adie showed what a good batsman he is as he stroked five fours and four sixes in his 63 alongside Yori Roberts (19) but both fell victim to the stumping skills of Richard Reed, as did Paul Oeppen, to give Delaney figures of 3 for 27.
But with Chris Arundel also claiming a late wicket Stackpole were restricted to 115 for 7 thanks to the 13 extras – setting Llanrhian a target of 102.
Llanrhian ease home despite Corbett’s input for Stackpole
Strawbridge started off his second innings with another six but he was then well caught on the boundary by John Williams off Jack Corbett as part of a very good 4 for 19 spell from his five overs as Jack Jones and Richard Reed also departed cheaply, the former falling to a stunning one-handed boundary catch by Paul Oeppen.
But Paul Lewis played with his usual calm and scored 27 (two fours and six) before he became Corbett’s fourth victim – and Delaney departed for 19 (two fours and a six).
Both teams sportingly completed the final overs in heavy rain and it was Arundel and Clarke who saw their team to their hat-trick of victories, assisted by 24 runs from ‘Mr Extras’, with Jonathan Strawbridge adjudged man of the match and both teams deserving of praise, along with the hard-working members of Whitland Cricket Club, as they all combined to get the match played in the true spirit of the Alan Brown competition!
SCORECARDS:
First Innings:
Stackpole Batting:
Alan Webster ct Nigel Delaney b Daf Williams 0
John Williams ct Fraser Watson b Jack Jones 0
Lewys Gibby st Richard Reed b Tom Clarke 80
James Adie b Chris Arundel 32
Simon Bevan ct Fraser Watson b Tom Clarke 4
Yori Roberts b Nigel Delaney 26
Paul Oeppen not out 6
Extras 17
Total (6 wickets) 165
Llanrhian Bowling:
Daf Williams 3-0-24-1; Jack Jones 5-0-16-1; Anthony Couzens 3-0-35-0; Chris Arundel 3-0-30-1; Nigel Delaney 4-0-36-1; Tom Clarke 2-0-22-2
Llanrhian Batting:
Paul Lewis ct John Williams b Alan Webster 38
Jonathan Strawbridge ct James Adie b Simon Bevan 97
Jack Jones not out 24
Nigel Delaney not out 11
Extras 9
Total (2 wickets) 179
Stackpole Bowling:
Alan Webster 5-0-40-1; Jack Corbett 5-0-45-0; Simon Bevan 5-0-51-0; Paul Oeppen 5-0-39-0
Second Innings:
Stackpole Batting:
Alan Webster lbw b Jack Jones 3
John Williams ct Nigel Delaney b Tom Clarke 0
Lewys Gibby ct Nigel Delaney b Jack Jones 5
James Adie st Richard Reed b Nigel Delaney 63
Yori Roberts st Richard Reed b Nigel Delaney 10
Paulk Oeppen St Richard Reed b Nigel Delaney 7
Simon Bevan not out 2
Jonathan Hughes b Chris Arundel 1
A Frearson not out 2
Extras 13
Total (7 wickets) 115
Llanrhian Bowling:
Tom Clarke 5-0-27-1; Jack Jones 5-0-29-2; Nigel Delaney 5-0-27-3; Chris Arundel 5-1-19-1
Llanrhian Batting:
Paul Lewis ct Adam Frearson b Jack Corbett 27
Jonathan Strawbridge ct John Williams b Jack Corbett 7
Jack Jones ct Paul Oeppen b Jack Corbett 5
Nigel Delaney b Alan Webster 19
Richard Reed ct Simon Bevan b Jack Corbett 1
Chris Arundel not out 11
Tom Clarke not out 8
Extras 24
Total (5 wickets) 102
Stackpole Bowling:
Simon Bevan 3-0-19-0; Jack Corbett 5-1-19-4; James Adie 1-0-13-0; Alan Webster 4-0-33-1; Paul Oeppen 2-0-14-0
