Neyland Match Report
Whitland vs Neyland. Welsh Cup, Sunday 6th May 2007. Umpires: Alen Hansen & Huw Davies.
Having been bowled out for 67 and 105 in the first two league fixtures of the season, Neyland arrived in Whitland looking for
some batting practise ahead of the following days league game against Lawrenny. Whitland's wicket had been covered and remained
dry despite some overnight rain, but by 1:30pm the odd drop was falling again, it was looking grey and rain was forecast for
the afternoon. Hence there was little surprise when Andrew Miller lost another toss and Whitland elected to bat first.
Jeremy Charles and Henry Durrant opened the bowling against Dai Lee and O Davies, a young new acquisition for Whitland from the
Carmarthen League. With the leg side wide rule in force, Neyland were a little wayward early on, bowling 7 wides in the first 2
overs as the new ball swang significantly in the overcast conditions. Whitland progressed well as the drizzle began to fall,
reaching 58 for 0 after 10 overs with Davies looking to pull anything remotely short and Dai Lee driving over the top, as usual,
with one very well struck striaght six off Charles.
Andrew Miller replaced Durrant, but the wet weather had by now taken its toll on the ball which had lost its shine and become a
little damp, and was no longer moving in the air. However Miller's fifth delivery, a poor full toss, brought the breakthrough as
Davies scooped the ball to Andrew Hansen at straight mid wicket.
Summons replaced Charles and an average first over went for 9, but he then settled and bowled well to finish with 6 overs for 28.
At the other end, having made the breakthrough Miller gave way to Phil Davies after two overs.
At the 20 over mark Whitland stood on a healthy 109 for 1, as Matthew 'Titch' Davies supported Dai Lee well. The scoring rate
slowed a little as they Neland bowlers tightened things up a bit and this brought the reward of the second wicket in the 25th
over with the score on 125, Dai Lee playing back and being trapped lbw by Davies.
Neyland's usual wicket-keeper Sean Hannon had relinquished the gloves before the game in the hope of bowling, with Paul Murray
replacing him behind the stumps and putting in a very assured performance. Sean meanwhile spent the first 23 overs of the match
warming up and practising his bowling action in full view of the Neyland captain. Sean finally got his wish and replaced
Summons at the road end, and the routine soon developed of Sean bowling short of a length outside off stump for Titch to
alternatively mis-time the ball then crash it straight into a fielder in the covers.
At the other end Phil brought the mid-wicket boundary fielder in and promptly bowled a couple of long hops for the left handed
Ed John to lob to mid-wicket for four. Phil soon had his revenge though as he had John caught by Durrant for 13.
Sean then removed a frustrated Titch when he was well caught by Summons. However Sean was soon left wishing he was still bowling
at Titch as following recording 1 for 8 off his first 5 overs, his next over went for 10 including an enormous 6 to long on from
Kevin Pearce. Sean chose not to look around, prefering to ask Durrant how far it had gone - the answer, miles. Well over the
tall fencing, over the road and onto the roof of the building on the other side. Sean finished with 1 for 32 off 8, very
respectable figures ... for a wicket-keeper.
Following his two earlier overs of gentle medium pace Andrew Miller then returned to bowl some even slower spin. A wicket
maiden soon followed as Miller clean bowled M Thomas, and this was followed by the wickets of Shane Morgan and Bobby Webb, both
also clean bowled by well flighted deliveries. On the verge of an extremely rare 5-wicket haul Miller saw a leading edge fly out
to long off where brother Paul got in position early, then confidently watched the ball bounce out of his hands onto the grass.
Andrew thanked his brother for his effort, and finished with 4 for 42 off 9 overs.
Andrew Hansen made a rare appearance with ball in hand, but bowled from the wrong end. His father Alen was umpiring at the other
end, so Andrew didn't get a wicket. His first over surpassed all expectations, including his own, with only a single scored off
it, but he was quickly found out and his second was dispatched for 13 including a six.
Durrant then returned to bowl the last over from the road end and picked up two wickets for four runs including the wicket of
Pearce for exactly 50.
Whitland's innings closed on a vey healthy 228 for 9 off 45 overs.
A very generous and appetising tea was enjoyed by all, as it must be said, is always the case in Whitland.
Neyland took to the field after tea in the knowledge that they were chasing a score that was 56 runs more than they had managed
in their first two matches of the season combined. However there was little to fear as the Neyland skipper had rallied the team
with a warrior-like team talk suggesting the game be treated as batting practise, with the result not being too significant as
long as everyone had a nice time. The batting order was also revised, with Henry Durrant and Sean Hannon opening the batting
following good performances from positions 9 and 10 in the previous days league match in Narberth.
Whitland opened the bowling with the experienced Mark Lee and young Bobby Webb, and the new dry ball was immediately swinging.
However Durrant soon took a liking to Webb's bowling, hitting 3 well-timed boundaries off his second over, but on the final ball
of Webb's third over Durrant missed a full balland was adjudged lbw for a rapid 26, and Neyland were 32 for 1 off only 6 overs.
Sean Hannon then kept the score board ticking, and recorded a 7, as four overthrows were conceded when the batsmen had already
completed 3 runs. Paul Miller, batting at 3, scored 5 then drove a ball back to the bowler, Davies. He began to prepare himself
for the next delivery while all players and spectators stood wondering why Paul was not 'walking' when he had clearly been caught
and bowled. Paul claimed it was a bump ball, the umpires stated that they were unsure and so Paul inexplicably walked off! Paul
must know what he was doing, but nobody else did.
Paul Murray then strode to the crease and was soon off the mark with a boundary. Paul looked in good touch but was caught behind
off the bowling of Davies just as he was beginning to impose himself, for 13. This brought Jeremy Charles to the crease with the
score on 77 for 3 off 16 overs. Jeremy had demoted himself to number 11 the previous day, but with Neyland a little behind the
run rate and with the chance that the rain could bring an early conclusion to proceedings, Jeremy was looking to get on with
things from the outset.
Three overs later O Davies removed Hannon for a very useful 27 runs, and Neyland were in a little trouble at 93 for 4 off 20
overs. However both Hannon and Durrant had again batted well and taken their opportunity to prove they could do a job at the top
of the order.
Lee Summons joined Charles and there followed a very fruitful partnership for Neyland as the pair put on 62 in just 8 overs
before Summons was adjudged lbw for 16 off the slow left arm off spin of Ed John. This was Summons' first decent innings for
Neyland and he looked fairly comfortable working the ball around the wicket in support of the powerful Charles, but also struck
a nice boundary over mid-on as Whitland attempted to keep Charles off strike.
Phil Davies then came and went for a quick 6 runs, and was a little unfortunate to be run out. Nicholas Koomen came in at number
8 and also did a very good job supporting Charles and rotating the strike well with 6 singles and a four in his 10 before being
stumped by Pearce off the bowling of Davies (Davies having returned to the attack with a spell of off spin).
Meanwhile Charles was dominating the Whitland attack, brutally disposing of the full tosses he was handed from Ed John, and
was rapidly taking the game away from Whitland. By the time Andrew Miller reached the crease from the number nine berth the
daunting target of 229 had been reduced to just 23 from 9 overs. A quick check with the scorers confirmed that the deserved
century was just beyond Charles' reach, so Miller and Charles concentrated on ensuring victory with the minimal of fuss and this
was ensured in the 43rd over as Miller cut C.Stephenson through point for four to finish on 7 not out.
Charles finished on 88 not out, an excellent innings during which he remained in complete control, hitting six 4's and two 6's
on his way to his biggest score for Neyland to date. He vowed to continue to borrow contact lenses and a GM bat for his next
innings and was cangratulated by all on an excellent display which drove Neyland to a comfortable win.
Next round - Ammanford away at the end of May. Neyland beat Ammanford in the Welsh cup at home in 2005 in a very tight encounter
when Neyland proved to be on top form. Neyland will doubtless have to be at their very best again if they are to have a chance of
repeating the success, particularly since it is unlikely that they will have full availability for this fixture.