Back Row:- Mujahid Ilyas, Hasnain Nawaz, Hugo Caldicott, Harry Friend, Nathan Berry, Owen Reilly.
Front Row:- Josh Waughington, Sujeewa, Michael Clayden, Charlie Stewart, Morgan Bevans.

Newport CC won their 3rd T20 Cup Final of the season, to be undisputed T20 Champions of South Wales.

Having already won the SWPL T20 and Macey KO against Swansea and Abergavenny respectively, the 

latest Cup Final was a shootout between Newport, the Gwent Winners and Cardiff, the Glamorgan 
& Vale Winners, the game being played at Lisvane Cricket Club.

In glorious end of season weather, Cardiff elected to bat on winning the toss. but were pegged back 
early on against a tight opening attack, with Michael Clayden claiming the first wicket to fall with just 
12 on the board, after 3 overs. Umar Malik and Greg Holmes tried to get on top of the bowlers, but 
on a slow turning wicket, runs were proving difficult, and when Holmes (7) was out stumped by Nathan 
Berry off the bowling of Hasnain Nawaz, Cardiff had slipped to 37-2 off 7.3 overs.

The introduction of Mujahid Ilyas immediately paid dividends, as he clean bowled Malik (25) with the 
Cardiff score on 53-3 off 10.5 overs. Hughes and Teg Phillips proved to be a stubborn partnership, but 
runs were drying up and when Hughes was out for 14, another stumping by Berry, off the bowling of 
Waughington, Cardiff had scored a measly 79-4 off 16.5 overs. A final flurry of runs and a clatter of 
wickets, two for leg spinner Stewart and another for Waughington, saw Cardiff reach a final total of just 
97-8 in their alloted 20 overs. All the Newport bowlers bowled well, Michael Clayden 1-16 (4 overs), 
Hasnain Nawaz 1-14 (4 overs), Mujahid Ilyas 1-17 (4 overs), Charlie Stewart 2-17 (3 overs) and 
Josh Waughington 2-10 (2 overs).

Any hopes of an easy Newport win were dismissed, as Newport lost an early wicket in the first over. 
Josh Waughington joined Morgan Bevans and immediately put the Cardiff bowlers under pressure, but 
just as runs had been flowing easily, for the first time in the match, Newport suffered a double blow in quick 
succession as Bevans was out caught for 13 off 9 balls and Waughington followed for 10, and Newport were 
29-3 off 5.2 overs. Osama Subhan claiming 2 of the wickets to fall.

Mujahid Ilyas joined Mike Clayden in what was going to be a decisive partnership, Ilyas was quick to pounce 
on any loose balls and the fifty was posted in the 10th over. However, Clayden was soon out and Ilyas would 
now have to score the bulk of the runs.  For the first time in the game Cardiff were on top, with spinners, Mills, 
Phillips and Barry proving difficult to get away. As the overs ticked by a flurry of wickets fell and with 4 overs 
remaining Newport were on 86-7. Ilyas was still in and batting well, however things turned worse for Newport 
as they lost 2 wickets, including Ilyas for 37, off 38 balls including 6 fours. 

Newport had slipped to 92-9 with 7 balls remaining. The outcome of the match rested in the hands of the last 
pair of Charlie Stewart and Hasnain Nawaz. Stewart claimed a single off his first ball, which meant Newport 
needed 6 to win off the final over to be bowled by Phillips. The tension eased slightly as Stewart played a 
majestic cover drive for four off the first ball, to tie the scores. A dot followed before a scampered single 
saw Newport home to victory, by just 1 wicket with 3 balls to spare, and their third T20 Final win in 3 weeks. 
Osama Subhan was the pick of the Cardiff bowlers claiming 3-19 (4 overs), Mills 2-10 (4 overs) and Barry 2-11 (2 overs) 
also bowled well. 

For Newport it was a hat trick of T20 wins to end a fantastic 2021 season.

Newport Captain, Mike Clayden receiving the Cup from Phil Haines

Full Match Scorecard

https://newportcc.play-cricket.com/website/results/4969232