Western Telegraph Match Report, 18th July 2007.




Neyland Match Report

Neyland vs StIshmaels. Saturday 14th July 2007. Umpires: Tony Scourfield & Peter Perry.
Following last week's much needed away win at Lawrenny, Neyland entertained a confident Tish side currently leading the first division, and fresh from their Harrison Allen semi-final win over Cresselly. Jonathan Pawlett had won his previous 11 tosses for Tish, and with yet another wet wicket awaiting the loser of this toss, it was an important moment which could have a significant bearing on the match. Andrew Miller tossed the coin high in the air, Pawlett called heads and ... heads it was. 12 in a row for Tish - unbelievable.
Paul Murray and Henry Durrant duly took the field for Neyland to face young paceman James Salter and Jonathan Pawlett. It was immediately apparent that batting would be a challenge on the wet wicket, and in Pawlett's second over Murray pushed at a ball which stopped on him a little and was caught for 2. The following over a thin outside egde from Durrant off a ball that didn't bounce a great deal only deflected the ball onto his off stump, and Neyland were 2 for 2 after 4 overs.
Andrew Miller and Scot John set their sights on survival for the following overs, reaching 11 for 2 after 12 overs, whereupon Daniel Flynn and Andrew Williams came into the attack. Williams bowled Miller for 15, with the score on 33 for 2 in the 21st over. Scot John then hit a couple of boundaries before being caught by Kimpton off Williams for 21 in the 25th over. Neyland were obviously struggling, but with a rain affected wicket there was still a chance that the total of 44 for 3 could be turned into a total which could be defended, but disaster duly struck as Williams took a further 2 wickets in his next over as both Nicholas Koomen and Gregg Miller were adjudged lbw, for 3 and 0 respectively, and Neyland were 47 for 5. The Australian Kimpton particularly enjoyed assisting Miller on his walk back out, and a few tasty words were exchanged.
Jeremy Charles looked fairly comfortable at the wicket for a period, scoring a useful 16 before being surprised by a full toss from Salter, but none of the remaining Neyland batsmen provided much resistance as Phil Davies, 7, Lee Summons, 6, and Sean Hannon, 4, all came and went to leave Patrick Hannon without facing a ball from the unusual position of number 11, and Neyland all out for 81 in only the 37th over.

Neyland took to the field after tea knowing that they probably didn't have enough runs on the board, but hoping to get among the wickets early and take it from there. Henry Durrant and Lee Summons opened the bowling, and Tish opened with captain Peter Bradshaw and the younger Salter brother Andrew. The first ball of the innings Bradshaw clipped a leg side delivery from Durrant to backward square leg for four, and after 8 overs StIshmaels had reached 21 without loss. Though the liklihood of a positive result was falling rapidly, Neyland continued to work hard in the field, and the breakthrough duly came from a brilliant piece of fielding from Gregg Miller. Bradshaw drove the ball firmly into the off side, expected the ball to penetrate the infield and called for a run. Miller dived full length to his right in the covers, Salter called 'no' but by now it was too late for Bradshaw. Miller held on to the ball, rose quickly and threw accurately to the keeper. Bradshaw saw there was no chance of recovering and simply continued to jog past Salter and the bowler and off the field, having scored 12 off 21 balls.
Stuart Kimpton came in at number 3, and was immediately put under intense pressure as a result of his frequent commentary during Neyland's innings, and a similar performance in the Harrison-Allen the previous week. He duly cracked and only second ball attempted a big shot, which flew out to mid off where Nicholas Koomen jumped to take an excellent catch above his head. Neyland now had 1 bowling point and with Tish now 22 for 2 sensed that they may still be in with a chance. Two overs later Durrant claimed his second wicket when Jonathan Pawlett also took the aerial route and was caught by Patrick Hannon.
After 12 overs, with the score now 29 for 3 and Neyland very much in the game, Patrick Hannon and Phil Davies came into the attack. They kept things tight and new batsman Andrew Palmer batted sensibly for a period before he tried to force one off Hannon and skied the ball to mid on for Koomen to safely claim a second catch. Palmer was on his way for an otherwise patient 9 off 36 balls, and during Hannon's next over Michael Symons was departing for just a single off 9 balls when he was caught by Gregg Miller.
Tish were now 47 for 5, still requiring another 36 for the win, and looking somewhat nervy with the prospect of winning the league perhaps beginning to loom large in their minds with only 5 league games to follow this one. The experience Andrew Williams then joined Andrew Salter and both Neyland and Tish knew that the next wicket was probably the vital one. Neyland continued to press but the batsmen were extremely patient and rode their luck. The scoring rate slowed to a snail's pace, Salter edged the ball between first and second slip, then just wide of the slips, Williams got away with a couple of leading edges which looped up just short of the infield and both players played and missed on a number of occasions. However they did the job Tish required, very slowly edging Tish towards victory. 13 overs were taken to advance 11 runs from 53 to 64, but Tish will not have minded too much, except their more nervous supporters.
Tish eventually reached thier target of 82 in the 46th over, still 5 wickets down, and duly celebrated the win which kept them top of the league. Salter finished with an absolutely crucial 34 not out off 137 balls and was sportingly congratulated by all of the Neyland players. Williams finished 11 not out off 68 balls.
Neyland were left wish 4 league points, scant reward for such a sustained effort in the field, and were left to reflect on what difference could have been made by batting through the last 8 of the 45 overs of their innings.

League table following Neyland's loss to StIshmaels.