Neyland approached this match in confident mood following a big winning draw over Carew the previous week, whereas opponents Haverfordwest had suffered a heavy loss to Cresselly. These results meant that Neyland began this final fixture of the first half of the season on top of the table 18 points clear of Haverfordwest, with Cresselly in 3rd spot. Haverfordwest were without Dai Davies, and Neyland were missing Patrick Hannon but otherwise both teams were at full strength.
Neyland won the toss and invited Haverfordwest to bat, and Ben Field and Simon Holiday opened the innings against Nathan Banner from the scoreboard end and Gary Lloyd from the car park end.
Ben Field drove a full ball from Banner losely, just over cover for four,
but soon afterwards an excellent delivery from Banner did just enough to beat the bat and take the top of off stump, sending the offstump cartwheeling down the ground. Jonathan Strawbridge came in at 3, and elected to leave a lot of deliveries passing over and outside offstump, but got one wrong to find it come back just enough to again take the top of off stump.
Danny Potter came in at four and pulled his first ball for four. Over the next couple of overs he clipped a couple of nice shots off his hip to the fine leg boundary. At the other end Gary Lloyd was bowling an accurate probing line and length from which the batsmen were struggling to score. Potter was lucky to escape when he attempted a big shot out to cow corner immediately after the fielder was brought in from that position. Having come down the wicket a little inside edge was all that prevented him being either bowled or stumped. However a slower ball from Banner trapped Potter lbw for 17, shortly afterwards, leaving Haverfordwest precariously placed at 47 for 3 in the 19 over. Banner was nearing the end of his excellent spell of fast bowling in which he had removed 3 of the Haverfordwest top order.
This brought Dr A J Revu to the crease at 5, joining Simon Holliday who had cautiously advanced to 16. AJ played fairly aggressively from the start, hitting 6 boundaries in reaching 33, and helping Haverfordwest advance to 111 for 3 in the 32nd over before he was caught by Gregg Miller off the bowling of Nick Koomen.
Adam James was trapped lbw for 2 by Andrew Miller, and Nigel Delaney was caught by Patrick Bellerby off Koomen for 3. But then Huw Scriven joined Holiday in advancing the score from 128 to 159 for 6 in the 42nd over, before Andrew Miller removed Holiday, caught at backward square off a top edge, followed by Scriven and Wilment, both caught by Banner at long on, leaving Haverfordwest 9 down, from where they limped to 169 for 9 after the allotted 45 overs. The Haverfordwest total owed a lot to Holiday whose 67 runs off 42 overs held the innings together, and while not a huge total, at least gave Haverfordwest a chance.
After tea, things began badly for Neyland, losing both Gregg Miller and Paul Murray to the fast bowling of Adam James inside the first 3 overs, albeit Murray feeling a little hard done by to be given out lbw. Ashley Sutton and Nick Koomen steadied things for a while, advancing the total from 15 to 53 in good time before Koomen was also adjudged lbw to James, and Scott Jones followed first ball in the same manner.
Neyland were back in big trouble at 53 for 4 in only the 11th over. Andrew Miller joined Sutton in putting the innings back on track, seeing off James (despite a ping on the helmet), and working Clive Tucker around nicely. At 92 for 4 in only 25 overs, Neyland were beginning to think that only another 20 or 30 runs would put them in firm control, but Sutton fell to Nigel Morgan for 30, and Miller fell to AJ Revu for 32, and very quickly optimism became dispair as Neyland lurched from 92-4 to 92-6, 97-7, 104-8 and 111-9!
Sean Hannon, unusually coming in at number 11, joined Nathan Banner at this point, also batting further down the order than usual as he was not feeling that great. It appeared only a matter of time before Haverfordwest would claim the final wicket they needed for victory. As Banner later remarked, when Sean joined him at the crease he said "If we are both here at the end we will win this!". It appeared that the batsmen had far more confidence than those watching. However, as the overs passed both batsmen looked increasing comfortable, and the total advanced nicely as they ran well between the wickets.
Adam James was brought back for his final 3 overs but was unable to make the breakthrough, as Sean hit him for a couple of boundaries. James completed his spell with 4-56, and Neyland 145 for 9 after 39 overs, needing a further 25 to win from the remaining 6 overs!
By this time the sense of anticipation was rising, dispair had turned to hope and even expectation amongst the most optimistic of the Neyland team! Banner was looking in great form and at this point took control of proceedings. He worked the ball around nicely before smashing Holiday for a 6 in the 43rd over, a clear sign of intent that a losing draw just wasn't on his mind. With 12 neede off the last 2 overs there was still a fair bit to do, and perhaps a greater risk of defeat in chasing the win, but Banner hit a four and then a 2 from the first 3 balls of the over. Revu, sensing that it was all or nothing at this point sought to tempt Banner with a slower ball, and the tension was felt all around the ground as Banner wound up for a big shot ... only to change his mind and pull out at the last second to defend just in time! In-takes of breath could be heard from all quarters. But not from Banner. Revu repeated the tactic the following ball, but this time Banner was in no doubt that he was putting everything into this shot. He made a great contact and as the crowds held their breath and tried to calculate if the ball would clear the fielder at long on Banner was already throwing his bat down and celebrating. The ball just kept on sailing, clearing the new changing room building by a considerable distance, bringing Neyland a hugely dramatic victory, which all present knew could well have massive implications for the rest of the season. The rest of the team raced on to congratulate the pair and celebrate the great win.
Sean had played his part too in a magnificent undefeated partnership of 59 for the final wicket in 12 overs.
Haverfordwest were left a little stunned, but nonetheless were gracious in defeat.
What a finish!
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