PHOTO:
The delighted Neyland team flying the Neyland banner and the Pembrokeshire flag with distinction

Indoor Cricket:

 
Venue: Taunton Leisure Centre
Scorer: Kirsty Hannon
 
Neyland’s quest for a second appearance at the ECB Indoor Cricket Finals at Lord's received a significant boost as they easily beat Stalbridge Cricket Club in the Regional semi-final and then had to go almost straight back on again to take on powerful Cornish champs St Austell and beat them.

Neyland’s performance was all the more creditable because of the huge anomaly in distance travelled for the teams and they really did fly Pembrokeshire Cricket’s flag with distinction as they will now appear as one of the last four at the final’s day in the home of cricket!
 
SCORECARDS:
 

Semi-Final - Stalbridge v Neyland

 
Nathan Banner gave Neyland another brilliant start as he bowled two maidens in his three-over stint against Dorsetshire champions Stalbridge which only yielded seven runs as his fielders gave total support.
It applied the pressure as only Chris Moore batted well before he was run out.

No-one else managed double figures and the opposition were shot out in only 10.2 overs as Nick Koomen claimed 2 for 14 and Patrick Bellerby also bowled a maiden.

It was never going to be a total to trouble Neyland and Nick Koomen and banner took them to within sight of victory before Banner retired on 25, the pair having blitzed 24 off the only over bowled by Andrew Dyke.

Koomen saw Neyland home on 20 not out and Ashley Sutton kept his record of not being out with eight runs.
 
Stalbridge Batting:
S Sweetman ct & b Patrick Hannon 3
C Moore run out 24
S Forsham lbw b Patrick Hannon 8
SI Sweetman lbw b Nick Koomen 0
A Dyke ct Patrick Bellerby b Nick Koomen
R Knight run out 5
Extras 11
Total (all out) 60
 
Neyland Bowling:
Nathan Banner 3-2-7-0; Patrick Hannon 3-0-25-2; Nick Koomen 2.2-0-14-2; Patrick Bellerby 2-1-6-0
 
Neyland Batting:
Nick Koomen not out 20
Nathan Banner retired 25
Ashley Sutton not out 8
Extras 8
Total (0 wicket) 62
 
Stalbridge Bowling:
S Forsham 2-0-11-0; R Knight 1.2-0-12-0; S Sweetman 2-0-7-0; A Dyke 1-0-24-0; SI Sweetman 1-0-8-0
 

Final - St Austell v Neyland

 
Neyland made sure of their second appearance in the National Finals at Lord's as they beat off the strong challenge of St Austell, the champions of Cornwall.

Skipper Sean Hannon got the toss right and invited St Austell to bat first, and they bowled really well, backed up by splendid fielding, and then batted sensibly, pacing their innings to perfection, to win with four balls to spare.

14 year old Andrew Bone was the star of St Austell’s batting as he scored 42 before being run out off the last ball of their allotted 12 overs, with his brother Gareth supporting with 21 and Simon Raven chipping in with 16 as Patrick Hannon and Nathan Banner were the pick of the Neyland attack with 1 for 17 and 0 for 30 respectively from their three-over spells.
 

Bright start to the Neyland innings

Neyland made a cracking start in pursuit as they reached 55 without loss in six overs as Banner and Koomen retired on 25.

But St Austell fought back bravely as Sutton departed for seven runs, his first dismissal in indoor cricket this season, with Martin Bone as the third member of his family to contribute by taking 2 for 16.

Sean Hannon contributed 11 before Banner returned to the crease when the third wicket fell but was run out without adding to his score – but Nick Koomen and Patrick Hannon remained cool and guided their delighted colleagues and hardy band of supporters, over the winning line.

It was a superb performance by Neyland, who had to make a journey that was longer than all the opposition put together – but they showed what a brilliant indoor cricket team they are despite that obvious disadvantage! Well done Sean Hannon and his merry men!
 
St Austell Batting:
A Bone run out 42
J Allison ct Nathan Banner b Patrick Hannon 2
G Bone st Sean Hannon b Patrick Bellerby 21
M Bone run out 0
S Raven run out 16
L Watson b Nick Koomen 3
Extras 6
Total (all out) 90
 
Neyland Bowling:
Nathan Banner 3-0-20-0; Patrick Hannon 3-0-17-1; Nick Koomen 3-0-23-1
Patrick Bellerby 3-0-30-0
 
Neyland Batting:
Nick Koomen not out 25
Nathan Banner run out 25
Ashley Sutton ct & b S Raven 9
Patrick Bellerby lbw b M Bone 5
Sean Hannon lbw b M Bone 11
Patrick Hannon not out 8
Extras 14
Total (4 wickets) 91
 
St Austell Bowling:
L Watson 3-0-27-0; S Raven 3-0-33-1; G Bone 2.2-0-8-0; M Bone 3-0-16-2