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Harrison Allen Bowl Finalists Lawrenny and Saundersfoot locked horns on Saturday (Jul 27) in a Division 1 league encounter and it was the hosts, Lawrenny (242-6) who emerged victorious by 125 runs, having been invited to bat by Saundersfoot (117 ao), skipper Yanik Parker.
Home captain Ryan Morton (76; 5x4; 4x6) was the catalyst for his teams score, coming to the crease at 80-3, adding 109 for the fourth wicket with Troy Purslowe (51; 4x4; 2x6), before the Australian born batsman fell to a catch by James Caine of the bowling of left arm seamer Tom Mansbridge (1-49). Morton was also caught by Caine off Jon Mansbridge (1-40) with the score on 220, Tom Cole, unbeaten on 15 (1x4) as the innings closed on 242.
Veteran bowler Neil Powling was instrumental in clawing back the home scorecard after Harry Thomas (38; 5x4; 1x6) and teenager Finley Lewis (19; 1x4) had added 66 for the opening partnership, Powling (2-27) making the initial breakthrough bowling Lewis and Nicky Cope’s (1-64) off spin accounting for Thomas an over later on the same score. Cope took a stunning one handed catch at slip to give Powling his second wicket, that of teenager Wil Nicholas (11; 2x4), the wily veterans variation of seam and swing firmly thrusting him into contention for a Bowl final berth. Opening bowler Mike Bailey, also contributed 1-41.
The Saundersfoot reply began disastrously when Tom Mansbridge was run out without scoring from a direct hit by Fin Lewis from backward point, his batting partner Scott Helmich (2) caught by Kidney off Rob Williams (2-22) with the score on 5 and a run later Caine was pinned in front of his sticks by the venerable Williams, for a duck. Cope (35; 4x4; 1x6) and Jon Mansbridge (40; 4x4) steadied the ship until after drinks, taking the scoreboard to 88 before Fin Lewis had him caught by Cole, before Thomas (4-33) accounted for Cope on 104, to pole his claim for the man of the match award, an over after teenage spinner Rhys Eynon (2-5) had the dangerous Gareth Edwards (6) caught by Nicholas on the same team score.
Eynon and Thomas quickly wrapped up the visitor’s innings on 117, inside 38 overs as the ‘Gavanyards’ put down their marker as favourites to win the Bowl after the comprehensive victory. Saundersfoot are now looking over their shoulder after other results from the weekend sees them perilously close to the trap door into Division 2, where they are 13 points above the relegation places and in the mix as one of six teams battling for survival.
Umpires: Gareth Brace & Jonathan Twigg; Scorers Malcolm Thomas & Adge John
