The long trip to North Wales to face Northop Hall proved a successful one, but only just, with 
Charlie Stewart proving to be the hero, taking a wicket on the last ball of a thrilling encounter.

Newport elected to bat on winning the toss, but found runs difficult to come by and things got 
even trickier as Michael Clayden was first out for 18 with the score on 32-1 off 10.1 overs. 
Imran Hassan joined youngster Hugo Caldicott and a battling partnership saw the Newport total 
upto 62 off 17 overs, before Caldicott was out for a useful 24.

A further quick wicket followed in the next over, as runs were proving difficult to score, but Hassan 
was still at the crease.Mujahid Ilyas joined Hassan in a bid to up the run rate, but the Northop bowlers 
were proving hard to get away and when Kennedy claimed the 4th Newport wicket of Ilyas for 17, 
with the score on 98-4 off 26 overs a big score was looking unlikely.

Nathan Berry joined Hassan, but the bowlers were on top. Both Newport batsmen battled gamely 
and Hassan began to be the dominant partner. The odd boundary was being scored, but the overs 
were ticking by. Hassan reached a battling 50 off 48 balls in the 30th over, but soon Berry was out  
for10 with the score on 144-5 off 34 overs. 

Worse was to follow as Hassan was out for 72 in 72 balls with the score on 153-6 in the 36th over 
as Northop seemed to be in the driving seat. 

Imran Hassan Scored a Match Winning 72 in 72 Balls

Chris Hardy provided a few lusty blows, but with wickets falling freely Newport could only muster 172-9 
off their 40 overs. All the Northop bowlers bowled well with Darren Leach claiming 3-16 at the death. 
Joshua Kennedy and Jac Kennedy claimed 2 wickets each.

Newport needed early wickets, and they got them! Steff Kelly picking up 2 wickets, both caught behind 
by Berry with just 13 on the board in 5 overs. The Northop batsmen had to approach the innings more 
cautiously now and Newport gained the upper hand. When Hardy claimed the 3rd wicket at 33-3 (11overs) 
and another at 51-4 (14 overs), and Ilyas quickly followed with another wicket in the 15th over Northop had 
slipped to 57-5 andNewport were in the driving seat. Waughington claimed the 6th wicket at 65 in the 19th over, 
although Northop captain Will Higginson was showing calmness at the other end. Higginson was joined by 
Joshua Leach and they began to show the game was still far from over. They stopped the rot until 
leg spinner Charlie Stewart claimed his first wicket when Leach was out for 12 with the score on 93-7 in 
the 30th over.

Higginson was still there, now joined by Will Edwards, and with 80 runs still needed to win in just 10 overs 
they were going to have to up the run rate and quickly. Higginson upped the tempo reaching 50 in the 
35th over with the score on 133-7, but just as he was looking to be the match winner he was out to Chris Hardy 
for a gallant 67, in 68 balls and Northop were now 153-8 (36.4 overs).

The tension was high, as Edwards inched his way closer to the winning target in singles. At 159-8 off 38 overs, 
Northop were favourites, and at 166-8with 1 over left and just 6 to win on least wickets, but 7 to win outright, 
it seemed certain that the North Walians would get over the line. It was left to young Newport leg spinner 
Charlie Stewart to earn his stripes, he had bowled his spell well throughout the innings and was determined 
to take his opportunity. A single to Edwards off the first ball, inched Northop closer but exposed the tail and 
Stewart took his opportunity to strike 167-9, four balls left!

Stewart kept his nerve, Single, Single, Single off the next 3 balls, meant last man Darren Leach needed 2 to tie 
the game off the last ball of the match. The Newport team were in raptures asStewart clean bowled Leach with 
Edwards 27no looking on despairingly at the non strikers end. Newport had won by just 2 runs. 
Hero, Charlie Stewart claiming 3-29 in 8 overs. All the Newport bowlers bowled well, Kelly 2-33, and Hardy 3-46 
claiming the wickets but all were backed up by some fine fielding and catching.

Click on the link below for Full Match Scorecard
https://newportcc.play-cricket.com/website/results/4955915

Charlie Stewart - Match Winner with 3-29 

including a wicket off the final ball of the match

Newport now progress to the Welsh Cup Final, where they will play Swansea. 
It will be Newport's 3rd Cup Final of a fine season, they also play Swansea in the SWPL T20 Final and play Abergavenny 
in the T20 Macey Final. 
(All dates and venues to be confirmed).