National Indoor Cricket Finals at Lord’s:
Semi-Final: Kent University (79 all out) beat Neyland (78 all out)
Venue: Lords Indoor Cricket School
Umpires: Mrs Mel Juniper & Dave Walter
Scorer: Kacey Arran
Neyland Team Manager: Martin Jones
Neyland Seventh Man: Patrick Hannon
Neyland missed out on reaching the ECB National Indoor Cricket Final by an agonising ONE RUN against the students of Kent University – and to make the final disappointment even more disappointing was the fact that their opponents went on to beat Sheffield University in the final to take the coveted silverware.
It seemed as if they might beat such strong opposition, who were able to select from players competing at a very high level across the country in the summer, as they bowled and fielded really well to limit them to 79 all out in their allotted 12 overs – and at one stage in their chase stood at 67 for 2, just a tantalising 13 runs still needed with four wickets in hand.
But then Kent’s star player, Euan Munday, followed his top score of 33 with three overs where he grabbed 2 for 9 alongside another very good spinner in Lewis White (2 for 21) – and a late run out to shift skipper Bellerby when he had seven balls to score three runs and so there was no need for any risks – and Neyland were edged out by that solitary single!
But there was some consolation for Patrick Bellerby and his Neyland heroes in the fact that they had battled so far to book their fifth appearance at Lords; a record that is unlikely to be beaten, or even matched, by another team from Wales!
Kent University bat first and struggle early on
Neyland skipper Patrick Bellerby elected to field first and for the first four overs the ball swung a huge amount so that Kent struggled and lost openers Lee Williams for a duck as he went third ball to a good Patrick Bellerby catch of Nathan Banner in a maiden over - and Liam Durrant faced five balls for his two runs before he gave a catch to Nick Koomen off Jack John as his team lurched to 10 for 2.
But Euan Munday looked a class act alongside Lewis White, who scored 11 in 12 deliveries before Bellerby took his second catch, this time off Koomen, with the score on 33 for 3.
Owen Griffiths added 11 in nine balls before he gave a return catch to Koomen in his 2 for 21 three-over stint – and last man Kardikye Wadhwa gave the innings a late impetus with the only boundary and six before he was run out for 19 (14 balls).
That left Munday still at the crease and he was eventually run out in the final few balls with an important 33 from 26 balls and Neyland must have been pleased with their exploits so far.
Kent show good bowling skills – and fielded well
It soon became evident, however, that this was still going to be a very tight tussle as Kent’s excellent bowling was backed up by very tight fielding.
But Nick Koomen (11 in as many balls) and Paul Murray (18 in 12 balls, including two fours) took the score to 27 but then both departed in the space of five runs – but Neyland gradually recovered their momentum via previous captain Sean Hannon and current skipper Patrick Bellerby so that they looked favourites to win at 67 for 2.
Neyland look strong but lose their way at a vital time
At this stage, though, Hannon was bowled by Lewis White and Nathan Banner followed without scoring three deliveries later, but convinced he hadn’t edged it to keeper Durrant, it set the alarm bells ringing at 67 for 4, which soon became 70 for 5 as Jack John was given out leg before.
Bellerby continued to chip away sensibly towards the target with some carefully placed singles against the side walls but just as it looked as if they would edge through John was given out as supporting batsman and so the skipper had to depart – and Kent University were on the way to the final and Neyland were on their way home!
One could only feel sorry for their dejected players but that are wonderful ambassadors for Pembrokeshire Cricket and sportingly some went on the guided tour of Lords and those who had been before stayed to watch the final!
SO WELL DONE PATRICK BELLEBY AND ALL THE REST OF THE TEAM, OFFICIALS AND SUPPORTERS FROM NEYLAND WHO MADE THE TREK TO ST JOHN’S WOOD, LONDON!
SCORECARDS:
Kent University Batting:
Lee Williams ct Patrick Bellerby b Nathan Banner 0
Liam Durrant ct Nick Koomen b Jack John 2
Euan Monday run out 33
Lewis White ct Patrick Bellerby b Nick Koomen 11
Owen Griffiths ct & b Nick Koomen 11
K Wadhwa run out 19
Extras 3
Total (all out) 79
Neyland Bowling:
Nathan Banner 3-1-16-1; Jack John 2.5-0-14-1; Sean Hannon 2-0-22-0; Nick Koomen 3-0-21-2; Patrick Bellerby 1-0-6-0.
Neyland Batting:
Nick Koomen lbw b Evan Munday 11
Paul Murray b O Griffiths 18
Sean Hannon b Lewis White 13
Patrick Bellerby run out 22
Nathan Banner ct Liam Durrant b L White 0
Jack John lbw b Euan Monday 0
Extras 14
Total (all out) 78
Kent University Bowling:
Owen Griffiths 3-0-29-1; Kardikye Wadhwa 3-1-14-0; Euan Munday 3-1-9-2; Lewis White 3-0-21-2.
