Neyland Match Report
Jackals finally end Carew VoodooAfter 5 years of annual heartbreak, Neyland finally defeated Carew in a limited overs game played against a backdrop of controversy and ill feeling, which can only be matched by anti American sentiment in the Middle east.
At what felt like the 4th time of asking, it was a relief to get the game going and openers Murray and John were walking to the crease. However disaster was to strike early as John who had earlier been seen reading comments about Matthew Hayden tried to emulate the big Queenslander and walked down the crease to Carews fast bowler Davies. However, showing the balance of a 3 legged Zebra he found his middle stump cart wheeling and he began the long walk back to the pavilion wondering what on earth he had just done. Windy then joined Murray at the crease and stroked a fine boundary before snicking one to the keeper off Darren Thomas. As regular watchers know, skipper Miller doesn’t subscribe to the view of “sporadic” walking but even he admitted that he was almost tempted to stay his ground against the old enemy with umpire Marsden at the other end.
Enter Gregg Miller who proceeded to play the innings of the season, and along with Dunsford, Summons and Shannon played some superlative shots that at times defied physics and certainly wouldn’t be found in the ICC coaching manual. Miller struck several boundaries and two huge sixes into the leg side off the normally dependable Simon Wood. And with good banter on the sidelines Neyland racked up a total that was definitely defendable, even on this fast scoring ground.
A 20 over score of 143 was certainly going to be testing for Carew and so it proved as they could never really get their response going and kept losing wickets at regular intervals thanks in no part to some smart catching, especially from messrs Summons and Miller. This was backed up by some smart ground fielding from those in close and contributed to the pressure that Carew couldn’t shake off. During one crucial over Lloyd removed both Wood and Cannon, and Carew never really recovered, despite some good late hitting from Phil Jones.
Victory however was tempered by the fact that the Narberth horror show had repeated on itself and left the team in doubt that they had missed a glorious chance to win the Harrison Allen for the first time in nearly 30 years. On the plus side, this win sends a message to the rest of the county sides, that Neyland are now certainly one of the top dogs and perhaps from next year favourites to do an unprecedented treble!!