Haverfordwest hopes of glory ended by classy Belhus

PHOTOS:
Players and some of the Haverfordwest supporters at Lord's
Haverfordwest fly their flag in style . . .
And also fly the Pembrokeshire Flag as well!

ECB Indoor Cricket National  Finals:
 

Haverfordwest’s hopes of becoming the first-ever Pembrokeshire Club to win the ECB Indoor Finals were brought to an abrupt halt in the semi-final at the Lord’s Indoor Cricket School as they lost to Essex representatives Belhus Cricket Club.

Haverfordwest batted first, as they have done throughout their illustrious campaign, but on this occasion their powerful line-up failed to fire on all cylinders and the experienced opposition, who play outdoors in the top echelon of the Shepherd Neame Essex League restricted them to 79 all out in only 10.2 overs.

This was never going to be enough to trouble a strong Belhus batting line-up in which Joe Joyce averaged 81 last season, with a top score of 171, whilst brother Joe averaged 38, including an innings of 98.

Yet The Town started well enough, despite the early loss of Simon Holliday (8) who gave a return catch to Dan Norris (who last outdoor campaign topped his team’s bowling average with 39 wickets – and after four overs Haverfordwest were steady on 37 for 1.

But when Ben Field retired on 25 (five threes, a four and a six), the batting collapse began.
Norris also claimed the only maiden of the day and shifted Sean Williams (20) in an excellent 2 for 14 spell from his 2.2 overs, whilst Matthew Guilbert (2 for 9) and Joe Joyce (1 for 17) also picked up wickets with some tight bowling.

No other batsman managed double figures and Field was run out on his return in the desperate search for runs so that Haverfordwest were dismissed with ten balls unused.

Haverfordwest’s slim chance of remaining in the competition depended on taking very quick wickets but Guilbert and Joe Joyce put on 38 runs in four overs before Holliday trapped the former player lbw for 12 runs.
But Joe Joyce marched on to 27 not out (four threes, two fours and a six) before he retired, leaving his brother Danny, the captain for four seasons, to steer them to a comfortable win with 13 balls still in hand and with The Town bowlers having conceded an unusual 13 wides.

It meant that Haverfordwest bowed out of the competition but there is no doubt that Danny Potter, his hardy squad of players, plus their 30+ supporters, deserve every praise for bringing Pembrokeshire Cricket again to the foreground of this prestigious competition!

Stop Press!
**At least Haverfordwest had the consolation of knowing that they lost to the eventual winners because Belhus successfully chased down 114 to beat Whitley Hall (Yorkshire) in the final!**

SCORECARD:
 
Haverfordwest Batting:
Simon Holliday ct & b Dan Norris 8
Ben Field run out 25
Sean Williams ct Dan Joyce b Dan Norris 20
Danny Potter b Joe Joyce 3
Huw Scriven ct & b Matthew Guilbert 0
AJ Revu ct Michael Fogg b Matthew Guilbert 9
Extras 14
Total (all out) 79
 
Belhus Bowling:
Dan Norris 2.2-1-14-2; Dan Dreher 2-0-22-0; Joe Joyce 3-0-17-1; Michael Fogg 1-0-12-0; Matthew Guilbert 2-0-9-1
 
Belhus Batting:
Martin Guilbert lbw b Simon Holliday 12
Joe Joyce not out 27
Michael Fogg ct Huw Scriven b Danny Potter 9
Danny Joyce not out 11
Dan Norris not out 5
Extras 16
Total (2 wickets) 80
 
Haverfordwest Bowling:
AJ Revu 3-0-15-0; Simon Holliday 3-0-29-1; Sean Williams 2-0-17-0; Danny Potter 1.5-0-15-1