Newport made the long trip to Neyland (Pembrokeshire) for their long awaited Welsh Cup 
Quarter Final, only to be frustrated by the weather as rain resulted in no play until 5pm. 
A 20 over match was finally able to take place.

Newport won the toss and put Neyland in to bat. Further rain stoppages again interrupted 
play, but it did not prevent Neyland openers getting their team off to a flying start with 
Patrick Bellerby and Nicholas Kooman in total command posting an opening 50 partnership in 
just 6.4overs. It was Bellerby who did most of the damage, smashing 63 (3 fours and 5 sixes) in 
just 38 balls before he was Charlie Stewart's first victim, out with the score on 87-1 in the 10th over. 
Stewart claimed a further wicket in the same over, and when Kooman fell for 21 off the bowling 
of Mujahid Ilyas, Neyland slipped to 92-3 off 12 overs. The dominant position Neyland had built 
was now showing signs of faltering, and good bowling from the Newport bowlers resulted in 
several more wickets being claimed, slowing the scoring considerably, before finally restricting 
Neyland to 118-8. Due to rain interruptions during the Neyland innings, the innings

was curtailed to just 16 overs, with Newport chasing a DLS target of 123 runs to win in 16 overs,
Mujahis Ilyas 2-26, Charlie Stewart 2-23, Hasnain Nawaz 2-17 and Chris Hardy 2-24 claiming the wickets.

The Newport innings got off to a bad start as opener Imran Hassan was out for 4 with just 7 on 
the board. Nathan Berry joined Michael Clayden and they set about repairing the damage. 
Clayden, scoring freely, showed Newport were in the game, taking a much needed 19 off the 5th over 
as Newport took their total to 32-1 off 5 overs. With Berry batting cautiously, it was left to Clayden to 
dominate the Neyland attack, but just as Newport were looking more comfortable he was out for a 
good 43 in 30 balls (5 fours and 1 six), with the score on 68-2 off 9 overs. Mujahid Ilyas joined Berry
and immediately attacked the bowling scoring 19 out of the 20 scored in the 10th over including 
2 sixes and a four. Berry was looking more positive, hitting 2 sixes before he was out for a useful 24 
in 27 balls, leaving Newport on 96-3. Just as Newport were looking to win the game relatively comfortably,
they lost Ilyas for 27 (1 four and 3 sixes) off just 10 balls. At 103-4, Newport needed 20 to win in 19 balls.
 
Neyland were not giving up however and with just 4 runs coming off the next 2 overs, Newport found 
themselves needing 16 off the final 2 overs. Chris Hardy had just come to the wicket,, but took control 
of the situation, hitting 20 runs, (2, 4, Dot, 6, 2, 6) in the 15th over to win the game for Newport by 6 wkts. 
with 6 balls to spare. Hardy finishing with 24no in just 17 balls.

For Full Match Scorecard click link below

https://newportcc.play-cricket.com/website/results/4948404

It was a game played in tremendous spirit and Neyland should be credited for their part in a fantastic 
game. Newport progress to the Semi Final stage of the Welsh Cup where they now travel to North Wales 
to take on Northop Haii. The provisional date is next Sunday, August 22nd (tbc).

Back Row: Imran Hassan, Hasnain Nawaz, Mujahid Ilyas, Nathan Berry, Chris Hardy, Michael Clayden

Front Row: Phil Maclean, Mark Wallace (Capt.), Rabbi Gulam, Stefan Kelly, Charlie Stewart