Youth Cricket Shield 2017

U11 Final - Chepstow CC v Newport CC

Winners - Newport

Chepstow won the toss and chose to field first.  Newport made a steady start and were 31 for 2 after 7 overs thanks to a wicket each from Ollie Taylor and Filip Chitnis.  However, this became 39 for 6 as Chitnis took another wicket while Charlie Beddis took three wickets in two overs for just eight runs.  This brought together Robbie Sandford and Tom Krige and they put together a well-crafted 49-run partnership to see Newport through to a competitive total of 88 for 6 at the end of their twenty overs.  Sandford Finished on 20 not out and Krige on 19 not out.  While not taking a wicket, James Kellaway finished with the impressive figures of four overs for four runs.

Like their opponents, Chepstow were going well on 39 for 2 with a wicket apiece for the Newport opening bowlers Sophia Smale and Jack Hope-Bell, when the dangerous Kellaway, having scored all 30 of their runs off the bat, was bowled by Vidhey Maripuri.  This soon became 43 for 5 with Maripuri taking a second wicket and Rohan Donga also getting in on the act aided by a Noah Rice stumping.  At the half-way stage number seven batsman Luke Cunliffe came to the wicket and was as amazed as everyone else at what happened next. 

Abhijeet Ashokkumar came on to bowl and proceeded to bowl a four-wicket maiden including a hat-trick with two bowled, one lbw and the other a second stumping for Rice.  This left the last wicket pair at the crease as Marie-Anne Sahabdeed joined Cunliffe with the team needing 33 runs to win from 24 balls.  This looked a tall order but Cunliffe chipped away at the score while Sahabdeen refused to give her wicket away.  Aided by some extras, and with the opening bowlers back on, 20 were needed off 10 balls.  Unfortunately, Cunliffe was then taken ill and had to retire hurt.  As he was the last wicket down, the innings was closed and Newport were declared the winners after a pulsating match.

In recognition of his match-winning bowling performance, Abhijeet Ashokkumar was awarded the Player of the Match trophy and also the match ball in recognition of his hat-trick.  The presentations were made by the recently retired Glamorgan spin bowler Dean Cosker.

U13 Final - Chepstow CC v Newport CC

Winners - Chepstow

Batting first, Newport were tied out down by the opening bowling partnership of Ben Kellaway and Ollie Rayner who conceded just 21 runs in their eight overs for a wicket apiece; the two Newport openers being dismissed in the first nine balls.  Owen Rice and Sophia Smale then set about consolidating the innings and compiled a 17-run partnership over the next six overs.  However, 22 for 2 became 35 for 6 as they and the Newport middle-order succumbed to the bowling of Kameel Sahabdeen and James Kellaway.  In their combined eight-over spells, they conceded 38 runs but crucially took seven wickets between them. 

There was a mini-revival led first by N Binshamim (14) and then Abhijeet Ashokkumar (14no) which saw Newport move from 35 for 6 to 78 all out in the nineteenth over.  James Kellaway finished with 4 for 20, including a caught and bowled, and Sahabdeen with 3 for 18 while Filip Chitnis chipped in with the final wicket having previously taken the only other catch of the innings.  In reply, the Chepstow innings was a much smoother affair.  Sam Protheroe took an early wicket but, thereafter, the Newport bowlers had no joy as the Chepstow pairing of Sahabdeen and Ben Kellaway moved inexorably towards their goal. This was reached in the thirteenth over with both batters undefeated; Sahabdeen on 45 and Ben Kellaway with 25 to give Chepstow a nine-wicket victory. 

In recognition of a fine all-round performance, Kameel Sahabdeen was awarded the Player of the Match trophy.  The presentations were made by the recently retired Glamorgan captain Mark Wallace.

U15 Final - Chepstow CC v Monmouth CC

Winners - Monmouth

Monmouth were making their first appearance at this stage of the competition.  Having lost the toss and been put into,  they lost a wicket in the second over with Sam Swingwood caught down the leg side by keeper Ryan Scrivens off the bowling of Ben Kellaway.  Monmouth’s Harry Friend and Ben Davies then had a rebuilding period but both fell for 17 in close order with the score reaching 41 for 3 in the eleventh over. Friend was clean bowled by Matteo Goddard and Davies was caught Tom Franklin, bowled Ollie Rayner.

From then on Chepstow controlled the innings as wickets fell steadily and Monmouth were left in the precarious situation of 65 for 8 with four overs still remaining. However, Owen Harris and Hayden Morris batted sensibly adding another 15 runs to enable Monmouth to post a total of 80 for 8 off their allotted 20 overs.  However, they knew they were probably 20-30 runs short of a par score and would have to bowl and field out of their skin if they were to win the match.

As Chepstow batted, Monmouth got off to the perfect start with Friend opening with a wicket maiden and he and Davies conceded just 25 runs in the first eight overs However, a half-century partnership between Tom Franklin and Matteo Goddard was threatening to take the game away before the latter was out to smart run out by Friend in the twelfth over. Monmouth’s change bowlers, Ben Pilot and Sam Swingwood, kept up the pressure restricting Chepstow to just 21 runs in the next eight overs while taking two more wickets.  This left them needing 18 runs in four overs with six wickets left.

All through the innings, Franklin had been patiently compiling the runs and the turning point in the game came when he was finally out through a fine catch by Haydn Morris off the bowling of Pilot for 33.  There then followed a fine two overs from Ollie Berry which included two wickets and, crucially, conceded just 8 runs. This meant the last over started with 14 runs to win.  Ollie Rayner and Josh Truckel did their best by scoring 11 but the Monmouth fielders held their nerve and the Chepstow batters failed to get the 3 runs needed off the last ball.

This was a match dominated by the fielding sides so it was no surprise that the Player of the Match award went to Monmouth’s Ollie Berry for his match-turning two-over spell.

Report of Final Matches

Will appear in due course

Report of Semi Final Matches

The Under 11 Final will be a repeat of last year’s between Chepstow and Newport.  In their semi-final, Chepstow faced Ebbw Vale who posted 74 for 7 with Ethan Jones leading the way with an unbeaten 41. In reply, Newport were made to fight and lost six wickets before reaching their target.  Rohan Donga was their top scorer with 26 runs while Ethan Jones completed a fine individual performance by taking 4 wickets for 16 runs.  In the other semi-final Chepstow overcame Llanarth in a terrific game of cricket.  The bowling and fielding were of the highest standard making the batters work hard for their runs. Batting first, Chepstow scored 90 for the loss of 3 wickets thanks, mainly, to Filip Chitnis with 34 not out.  Henry Evans, unbeaten on 34, and Tom Stentiford with 19 led the way but Llanarth, agonisingly for them, fell just 5 runs short.

The Under 13 Final will be contested by the same two clubs.  Newport posted an impressive 141 for the loss of one wicket with Harry Hughes leading the way with an unbeaten 65, ably supported by Sam Protheroe with 39. Undaunted, Abergavenny set about the chase with enthusiasm led my Anton Lodder, who scored 61, but they found the task too great and finished 28 runs short.  In the other semi-final Chepstow amassed a very challenging 154 for 2 with Ollie Rayner making an impressive 64 not out and James Kellaway was also unbeaten on 31.  In reply, Ebbw Vale, for whom Ethan Jones was top scorer with 25 not out, only lost one wicket but could only make 72 runs.  This was due to the parsimonious bowling display by the Chepstow attack.  This was best demonstrated by Filip Chitnis whose four overs yielded one wicket and not a single run. 

At Under 15, Chepstow reached their third final in a competitive semi-final with Abergavenny.  Morgan Bevans led the way for Abergavenny with an unbeaten half-century as his side posted 98 for 4.  In reply, Chepstow took the honours but only after losing 7 wickets.  Matteo Goddard was top scorer with 43. The other semi-final saw Monmouth reach their first final at this age-group in a convincing win over the current champions, Newport.  Nathan Berry scored 50, before being retired, out of Newport’s 92 for 7.  In reply, Harry Friend, who also reached the retiring score of 50, and Sam Swingwood, with 30 not out, saw Monmouth to a convincing 9-wicket victory.

Report of Quarter Final Matches

At Under 11, Llanarth racked up a mammoth 167 without losing a wicket with Henry Evans, Tom Stentiford and Arthur Newington-Bridges each retiring in the thirties.  In response, the inexperienced Abertillery team battled through to the nineteenth over but didn’t have the fire-power to get near to the target. This set up a Semi Final with Chepstow who comfortably beat Croesyceiliog.  For Chepstow, James Kellaway (75) and Harry Harkins put on 110 for first wicket and Charlie Beddis (35) and Max Warby 58 for the third as they posted 175 for 3.  Croesyceiliog batted through the twenty overs but, also, came up well short against a more experienced side. Chepstow’s Ollie Taylor took 3 for 8 and Bruno Chitnis was involved in making two run outs.  In the other half of the Draw, Ebbw Vale overcame Sudbrook’s 105 for 4, for whom Harvey Heaven made 21, to win by 8 wickets; their main scorers were Yousaf Iqbal (24) and M Parsons (22). Their opponents in the other Semi Final will be Newport who scored an impressive 168 for 1 with Sophia Smale and Rohan Donga both retiring in their forties and Noah Rice making 26 not out. In reply, Newport Fugitives scored a commendable 114 for 3.

At Under 13, Sudbrook came up against a rampant Abergavennny who bowled them out for 36 with Ben Morris taking 3 for 6 and Tom Pipe (28no) led Abergavenny to a nine-wicket victory.   They now play Newport, who had a convincing ten-wicket win of their own over Newport Fugitives, in the Semi Final.  P Taylor scored 21 for Fugitives as they posted 88 for 7. For Newport, Sophia Smale took a hat-trick while Ross Mohring also took three wickets and made an unbeaten half-century.  In the other half of the Draw, Chepstow posted 132 for 3, with Ben Kellaway making 72, and then restricted Ponthir to 72 for 6.  Their Semi Final opponents will be Ebbw Vale who scored 123 for 6 against Llanarth who, in reply, finished on 99 for 7.

At Under 15, Chepstow got the better of a high-scoring game against Newbridge and now meet Abergavenny in the Semi Final.  Morgan Bevans, who retired on reaching 50, led Abergavenny to 125 for 7.  They then restricted Blackwood to a total of 60 for 4.  In the other half of the Draw, Sam Swingwood retired on reaching 50 out of Monmouth’s 138 for 5.  They then bowled Ponthir out for 82 with Frankie Souto taking 3 for 9. The second Semi Final will be between Monmouth and Newport who defeated Ebbw Vale by 36 runs.  Batting first, Newport scored 147 for 3 with Nathan Berry retiring on 51and Ross Mohring scoring 38.  In reply, Alfie Morgan made 39no but Ebbw Vale finished on 111-6.

Report of First Round Matches

At Under 11, Sudbrook posted 118 for the loss of just one wicket with George Lloyd, leading the way with an unbeaten fifty, ably supported by Toby Palmer with 21 not out.  In reply, Ponthir made 38 for 8.  Sudbrook now meet Ebbw Vale in the Quarter Final.  Abergavenny, meanwhile, posted a competitive score of 109-7 with Tom Norton contributing 57 of the runs.  In the run-chase that followed Llanarth paced themselves well with Lawrence Johnson making 35 and Henry Evans 23. They passed the Abergavenny total off the penultimate ball for the loss of five wickets. and go on to play Abertillery who won a low-scoring game against Brecon.  In the final match in this Division, Jake Teague, with 30 not out, led Monmouth to 63 for 5 but Croesyceilog reached this total after losing the same number of wickets to set up a Quarter Final with Chepstow.  Newbridge conceded their match with Newport Fugitives who now meet Newport in the next round.

At Under 13, Owen Harris scored 33 in the Monmouth total of 83 for 4 and then took 4 wickets for 7 runs but this wasn’t enough to prevent Sudbrook from winning the match by just one wicket, with Ben Day making 27.  They now meet Abergavenny who had a comprehensive victory over Abertillery with three batters – Alex Holmes, Tom Pipe and Eoin Shackleton – all retiring on reaching fifty as their team amassed 201 for the loss of one wicket. Abertillery did well to only lose three wickets but were far from reaching the target set them.  Panteg and Ponthir played an exciting low-scoring game dominated by the bowlers. Batting first Panteg scored 45 for 9 with Ayaan Syed taking 3 wickets for 0 runs for Ponthir.  Not to be outdone, Abbie Westwood took 4 for 7 and Jack Davies 3 for 8 for Panteg but they couldn’t prevent their opponents from winning by one wicket.  Ponthir will now face Chepstow in the Quarter Final.  In the last match, Newbridge were bowled out for 80 by Ebbw Vale for whom Yousaf Iqbal took 3 for 2. Ebbw Vale then paced their reply well in winning the match by 5 wickets in the last over and now go on to meet Llanarth.  Croesyceiliog conceded their match with Newport Fugitives who now meet Newport in the next round.

At Under 15, Rogerstone posted 105 for 4 but Ebbw Vale chased this down in the last over to win by 6 wickets to set up a Quarter Final with the current champions Newport.  Ponthir restricted Llanarth to 65 for 9 thanks primarily to three wickets from Tom Barry and two from Rhys Smith.   They then passed their opponents' score for the loss of three wickets, two of which were taken by Jonathan Pearce, with Lewis Ford making an unbeaten 36.  Ponthir are now away to Monmouth.  Brecon conceded their match with Newbridge who now meet Chepstow in the next round.