Alan Brown Cup Final:
Kilgetty (206 for 1 and 240 for 1) beat Stackpole (112 for 8 and 100 all out) by 235 runs
Umpires: Neill Crawshay & Ian Gow
Scorers: Colin Williams & Phil Tallett
Man of the Match: Toby Poole (Kilgetty)
Adjudicator: Arthur Brady
Venue: Whitland Cricket Club (and what a great job they do as hosts!)
Kilgetty confirmed their right to be favourites from the outset to win the Alan Brown Cup as they overwhelmed gritty opponents Stackpole, with Toby Poole blasting two centuries and opening partner Jack Tucker adding a third three-figure score in the biggest margin of victory in the popular competition organised by the Pembrokeshire Association of Cricket Officials.Poole’s 147 not out in the first innings was, as far as can be remembered, the highest-ever score and in similar fashion, it is almost certain that no other batsmen has scored two hundreds in a final – and then Tucker blitzed 115 not out to put the game out of Stackpole’s reach.
Kilgetty start with a bang
Kilgetty skipper Richard Cope showed a positive approach from the start as he won the toss and elected to bat first, aiming to achieve a big enough total to put pressure on opposing skipper Simon Bevans – and that is exactly what happened after an early set-back when Tucker was bowled for only four runs by Stackpole’s big-hearted pace man Richard Mackay in his second over.
But then Jack Parkinson joined Poole and played an excellent support role as he gave his partner the strike as often as possible and the pair raced from 39 after five overs to 91 at the half-way stage.
Their total stood at a threatening 145 for 1 after the third segment of their innings and a final tally of 206 saw Poole standing on 147 not out, which included 15 fours and nine sixes as he restricted their running between the wickets to a minimum - and all the Stackpole bowlers suffered on a cracking batting track provided, as usual, by host club Whitland.Parkinson crafted an unbeaten 50 that contained four boundaries in an innings which showed what a good batsman he is too.
Stackpole struggle against Bevan and Cope
Stackpole needed a really strong start to their reply if they were to remain in contention but canny slow bowler Anthony Bevan and skipper Cope gave them a steep hill to climb which quickly became a mountain as Bevan had Richard Mackay (9) caught in the deep by Levi Hughes and Josh Davies (7) pouched by Ollie Gamble at midwicket in his 2 for 16 haul from five overs.
Cope was equally effective at the other end as he clean bowled Yori Roberts (9) and Mark Davies (0) to return fine figures of 2 for 14 before No 3 batsman Lewys Gibby was joined in a productive 5th wicket partnership by skipper Bevan which saw them add 60 runs before Gibby departed for 43, including five fours and two sixes, before he holed out in the deep to Anthony Bevan off Levi Hughes, a key scalp in his four over stint.
Simon Bevan reached 34 (three fours) but was then bowled by Tucker in a 3 for 25 spell which also included the wickets of Chris Gibbs without scoring (caught by Poole at mid-wicket) and Paul Oeppen for 2 (stumped by Geoff Marsh).
Extras contributed nine runs to the total and Marcus Adie was not out as Stackpole ended up on 112 for 8, a first-innings deficit of 94.
Poole and Tucker add more pain after tea
Following an excellent salad tea provided by Shan Richards, there was no respite for Stackpole as Messrs Poole and Tucker were merciless as they sped to 52 in the fifth over and at the half way mark of Kilgetty’s innings they were still together with 11 runs on the board.
It is to Stackpole’s credit that they didn’t throw in the towel but they had already conceded 220 runs before Poole, who had this time given a couple of half chances to very tired fielders, tried an interesting reverse scoop shot and was bowled by Marcus Adie for 102 runs, including 10 fours and another five sixes.
Parkinson’s patience saw him have time to score a single as Tucker went into overdrive and flew past three figures with nine fours and seven sixes to finish undefeated on 115 – and left Stackpole with 345 runs needed for victory off 20 overs.
Lewis leads Kilgetty home
Kilgetty gave their main bowlers a rest at the start of Stackpole’s second innings but it showed their attacking strength in depth as Anthony Lewis grabbed the key wickets of Josh Davies (caught by Poole for 2), Mackay (caught by Cope without scoring), and then Gibby (adjudged lbw for 6)
Levi Hughes bowled Jarred Sharratt for two runs and then Lewis completed an excellent 4 for 29 stint by removing Alex Frearson for 10.
Yori Roberts battled his way to 34 (three fours and a six) before he gave a sharp return catch to teenager Jack Badham and then Ollie Gamble finished with 2 for 21 as he shifted Mark Davies (13) and Chris Gibbs (7).
The end came quickly when Josh Bevan was thrown the ball by skipper Cope and in just two deliveries he dismissed Paul Oeppen (9) and Marcus Adie (6), both caught by skipper Cope with the score on exactly 100 all out.
An easy job for Arthur
The post-match presentations were undertaken by Richard Merriman, the chairman of the Pembrokeshire Association of Cricket Officials and he thanked Whitland for their wonderful hospitality and superb pitch, the umpires and scorers, Shan Richards for the outstanding meal, and sponsors Bysiau Cwm Taf for their support, with Joseff Edwards there to present the trophy as part of the presentations that were also undertaken by Trefor Evans, the vice chairman of PACO.
Then Arthur Brady, the Hon Secretary of PACO, presented the man of the match award and although he rightly mentioned the best performances in both camps he had the easiest choice ever in the final – Toby Poole for his 249 runs for just once out!
