YOUTH CRICKET SHIELD 2008 REPORTS & RESULTS

Finals Day Report

Despite a wet start and poor light and showers through most of the day, the Finals Day was successfully completed at Ebbw Vale on Sunday 31st August.  This was mainly thanks to the unceasing efforts of Ebbw Vale members led by Lindsey and Nick Pepper who worked tirelessly throughout the day.  The conditions were not ideal for batting but the highlight of the day was the high standard of fielding.  Of the 41 wickets to fall during the day, no less than 16 were due to catches and 9 to run-outs!  The last match even ended in a tie, in controversial circumstances, and was settled for the first-time in ten years by a bowl-out.  To add to this, there was another first with one player winning man of the match in two Finals!

Under 11 Division -  Batting first, Newport got off to a steady start with 24 runs scored off the first four overs aided by some wayward Llanarth bowling as they struggled to come to terms with the damp conditions.  Leg spinner George Lewis then came on and immediately took two wickets before Amir Mian and Luke Harris steadied the ship.  However, Richard Roberts' four overs cost just eight runs and George's seven, which meant that Newport had to up the run-rate.  In the race for runs, there were three run-outs, including Amir for 17, but Luke carried his bat for 21 as Newport finished on 89 for 5 in their 20 overs.  After an opening partnership of 28 between Gareth Ansell (7) and Jamie Norman (19), Richard Roberts joined Jamie in a 51-run second-wicket stand.   He hit three fours and one six in his innings of 26 and Matt Doyle scored 10 in three shots to ensure a fairly comfortable victory by 7 wickets with five overs remaining.  Darnell Taylor-Wood took two wickets and Matthew Jones one. For his all-round performance with bat and ball, Richard Roberts was chosen as Player of the Match.

Under 13 Division -  Put into bat, Ponthir made a cautious start against Ebbw Vale losing two wickets for 13 runs.  Angus O'Brien and Haydn Smith then put on 51 for the third wicket to finish on 89 for 3 with Jamie Lewis and Will Birch taking one wicket apiece.  Angus made a fine 42 and Haydn finished on 23 not out.  In reply, Ebbw Vale lost wickets at regular intervals with only Robson Blake reaching double figures.  Aled Burkitt was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 10, with Haydn Smith taking two and Jarrod Bluck, Angus O'Brien, and Tom Sparshott one each.  Angus O'Brien was chosen as Player of the Match for his match-winning innings and all-round work in the field.

Under 15 Division - Ponthir lost wickets steadily to some very good bowling and fielding by Chepstow.  Only Angus O'Brien, who had just played in the U13 Final, got into double figures scoring 20, as they were bowled out for 66.  Aaron Jones took 3 for 13, Mitchell Harris 2 for 9 and Luke Watson, Ben Jones and Jack Harvey took a wicket apiece.  After some early alarms, Chepstow were seemingly on course for victory led by opener Ben Jones when Angus O'Brien took a remarkable four wickets in one over including Ben's.  This led to Chepstow needing two runs to tie the scores, off the last ball, and win the game as they had lost one less wicket than Ponthir.  In an extraordinary turn of events, they succeeded in getting the runs but also losing a wicket (see below).  This meant that both teams were all out for 66 and a bowl-out took place between all the players except the wicket-keepers which Chepstow won to take the title.  Ben Jones scored 31 and Sam Fisher 14 while Angus O'Brien took 4 for 4, Gareth Burkitt 2 for 14, Jarrod Bluck 2-15 and Jack Norman 1 for 4. After his heroics with the bat and ball, Angus O'Brien was awarded the Player of the Match title for the second successive game.

(The last ball in the U15 Final deserves a detailed description as it certainly caused controversy at the time.  Needing two to win, assuming they didn't get out, the Chepstow batters only scrambled one run before the ball was returned and the fielders started to celebrate the 'win'.  Realising the ball was not dead, as the umpire had not called over or time, the batters ran to level the scores and take them to 'victory'.  However, the one batter then ran down the pitch to celebrate with his partner when a Ponthir player, realising the ball was still not dead, had the presence of mind to run him out.  All this happened in a matter of seconds.  No blame should be attached to the players as everything was done in the heat of the moment at a very tense time.  Similar situations have arisen at international level, notably to South Africa in the World Cup.  Also, a test player was given run-out having left his ground to congratulate a colleague who had scored a century before the ball was considered 'dead'. As parents and coaches, however, it brings it home to us the importance of an in-depth knowledge of the Laws, in this case Law 23, sub-sections 1 (a) (x) and 1 (b)!  The Laws of Cricket can be purchased from the Lord's website for just £3 and I'm sure clubs could get a discount for a quantity.)

Semi-Finals Report

Quarter-Finals Report

First Round Report

Preliminary Round Report

Under 11 Division - Crumlin had a walk-over Abergavenny.

Under 13 Division - Luke Loder (30) and Sam Dawkins took part in a 43-run partnership but Panteg were limited to a total of 66 for 7 in their twenty overs thanks to Richard Miles who took 4 for 5 for Brynmawr. In reply, however, they came up 13 runs short on 53 for 4. Sudbrook’s 129 for 6, with James Matthews scoring 63, was too much for Abergavenny who finished on 89 for 6 while Ebbw Vale had a comfortable nine-wicket win over Newport Fugitives who managed just 34 all out.

Under 15 Division - Pentwyn’s 81 for 5 was too much for Newbridge who finished on 57 for 7 thanks to Ashley Paine’s 4 for 15. Meanwhile, Bryan Gumm of Panteg took 4 for 4 in Abergavenny’s innings of 39 for 8. Panteg passed this total for the loss of two wickets. Alex Barry scored 65 in Pontnewynydd’s 121 for 4 and team-mate Tom Haynes Took 5 wickets for just 8 runs as Usk were bowled out for 67. The match of the round was at Ebbw Vale where Chepstow scored 128 for 8 with Rhys Cresswell top-scoring on 44 and Nathan Lapping taking 3 for 22. In reply, Ebbw Vale fell just 8 runs short for the loss of 4 wickets with Lewis Britton finishing on 47 not out and Jakob Whitby making 32.