Indoor Cricket – Welsh Finals:
Neyland miss out on Welsh indoor hat-trick
Competing teams: Cardiff University, Margam; Neyland
Umpires: Alan Hansen and David White
Venue: Morriston Leisure Centre
Neyland missed out on a Welsh Indoor Championship hat-trick as they made a cracking start to beat a strong Cardiff University team but then lost to Margam after their normally-reliable batting started badly in pursuit of a big total.
Umpire Alan Hansen, who was officiating in all three games, told the PembrokeshireSport.co.uk that the standard of play was the best that he had seen in the finals and Neyland certainly carried the Pembrokeshire Flag with distinction.
Match One:
In their first match, Neyland took on the team from Cardiff University which included Qatari international Mohammed Zafar and players from Sussex seconds but they bowled and fielded well to restrict the opposition to 123 for 5 from their allotted 12 overs, with Zafar scoring 21, Thurston 34, Morris 29 not out and Goodrich 20. Patrick Hannon claimed three wickets as skipper Sean Hannon and Gregg Miller also bowled well.
Then Gregg Miller provided the launch-pad for the chase as he retired on 30 after finishing in style with a straight six. Paul Murray and Andrew Miller managed double figures and Nick Koomen was 25 not out alongside Sean Hannon (19 not out) as the University team conceded a vital 23 extras to Neyland's miserly 7 as a key point in the Neyland success.
Cardiff University Batting:
G Thurston run out 34
M Zafar ct Paul Murray b Patrick Hannon 21
P Hamilton run out 5
J Goodrich b Sean Hannon 20
H Morris not out 29
B Kent st Paul Murray b Patrick Hannon 7
Extras 7
Total (5 wickets) 123
Neyland Bowling:
Gregg Miller 2-0-23-0; Patrick Hannon 3-0-35-3; Nick Koomen 3-0-32-0; Sean Hannon 3-0-20-1; Andrew Miller 1-0-12-0
Neyland Batting:
Paul Murray b M Zafar 10
Gregg Miller retired 30
Andrew Miller b B Kent 16
Nick Koomen not out 25
Patrick Hannon lbw b M Zafar 1
Sean Hannon not out 19
Extras 23
Total (3 wickets) 124
Cardiff University Bowling:
M Zafar 3-0-23-2; B Kent 2.4-0-30-1, G Thurston 2-0-25-2; H Morris 2-0-25-0; P Hamilton 1-0-4-0
Match Two:
Margam (110 for 5) beat Cardiff University (81 all out)
Margam then beat Cardiff University by 29 runs to set up a grandstand finish between them and Neyland.
Match Three:
Neyland asked Margam to bat first and were soon under pressure as the opposition ran well between the wickets and hit straight sixes from anything loose.
Their skipper Cox blasted an undefeated 51 (a six and 13 threes) during his two spells at the wicket alongside 46 from Maggs (four sixes and a four). McCormack chipped in with a hard-hitting 30, including three sixes) and a final tally of 150 for 5 in 12 overs was a hugely challenging tally to chase.
Perhaps it was that pressure that caused Neyland to slip to 5 for 3 in two overs as Gregg Miller and Paul Murray added a single apiece and Andrew Miller was run out for a duck at the bowler's end by a superb piece of fielding by Bartle.
Nick Koomen batted well for his 31 (three sixes) and there were useful contributions by Sean Hannon (19) and twin brother Patrick (16) before both were run out – but the Neyland innings ended on 79 all out in only 8.2 overs.
Margam Batting:
M Cox not out 51
N Maggs ct & b Patrick Hannon 46
A McCormack ct Sean Hannon b Andrew Miller 30
N Williams lbw b Gregg Miller 3
R Evans run out 3
K Bartle ct Andrew Miller b Nick Koomen 8
Extras 10
Total (5 wickets) 150
Neyland Bowling:
Gregg Miller 2-0-28-1; Patrick Hannon 3-0-16-1; Nick Koomen 3-0-501; Sean Hannon 3-0-40-0; Andrew Miller 11-0-13-0
Neyland Batting:
Gregg Miller b A McCormack 1
Paul Murray ct A McCormack b 1
Andrew Miller run out 0
Nick Koomen ct N Maggs b A McCormack 31
Sean Hannon run out 19
Patrick Hannon run out 16
Extras 11
Total (all out) 79
Margam Bowling:
N Williams 3-1-7-1; K Bartle 2-0-9-1; A McCormack 1.2-0-19-1; N Maggs 2-0-30-0
**The Neyland squad would like to thank their supporters, Mr & Mrs John Sheppard from Pembroke Dock, Mr & Mrs Brian Phelan, Mr & Mrs Chris Bradshaw, John Laugharne, plus umpire Alan Hansen and scorer Kirsty Hughes. **