Newport ended table toppers, Swansea's unbeaten SWPL record with a fine 24 run victory at St Helens.

Newport won the toss and elected to bat and openers Harry Friend and Tom Evans put on 34 before 
Evans departed for 24. Michael Clayden joined Friend and took the score to 68 before Friend was out 
for29. With the wicket playing a few tricks and turning alarmingly, it was a case of battling it out, 
which captain Morgan Bevans and Clayden did, laying a good platform with a partnership of 53, 
taking the Newport score to 121-3 off 32 overs, before Bevans was caught on the boundary edge 
for 22. Jack Hope-Bell soon departed, but Clayden was still there playing a fine innings. Mujahid Ilyas 
joined Clayden and these two formed the match winning partnership. Clayden building his innings 
with some fine strokes was looking imperious  at the wicket and with Ilyas, cautious to start, but 
beginning to hit the big shots required, the two put on 103 for the 5th wicket, taking the Newport 
score to 239-5, before Ilyas was out in the final over of the innings for a fine41in 49 balls. Time 
ran out on Clayden, but he had helped Newport to maximum batting points, whilst scoring an 
outstanding 94 not out as the Newport innings closed on 240-6 in 50 overs.

 Batting Stars -Michael Claden 94no and Mujahid Ilyas 41 share a stand of 103 runs

The Newport score of 240 looked a good one, and it looked even better as Steph Kelly clean bowled 
dangerman, Brad Wadlan for 0 with just the 2nd ball of the innings. Cameron Hemp and Steffan 
Roberts knuckled down, occasionally chancing their armas Newport desperately needed to break 
their partnership. With the wicket taking prodigious spin Newport played their trump cards with 
spinners Hasnain Nawaz and debut making Don Aberwardena, being introduced in to the attack. 
Just as the hundred partnership was reached and with Nawaz bowling a fantastic line and length 
with the ball turning square, it was his spin partner Aberwardena, making his 1st team debut who 
struck. He enticed Cameron Hemp (45), into a rash shot and claimed his first wicket, and Swansea's 
second with the score on 103-2 off 22 overs. The spinners were beginning to get on top, and the 
Swansea scoring rate dropped significantly. Whilst Nawaz kept it tight it was Aberwardena who 
struck 2 further vital blows, including the wicket of the dangerous Steffan Roberts for 57 and Swansea
fell to 121-4 in 25 overs. Nawaz completed his spell with fine figures of 0-23 off his 10 overs.
With the wicket spinning like a top, Mujahid Ilyas joined Aberwardena in the attack and the two 
made life particularly difficult for the Swansea batsmen. With Ilyas claiming 3 wickets and 
Aberwardena claiming his 4th as Swansea slumped to 136-7 off 40 overs. With over one hundred 
needed to win in just 10 overs, Daniel Rowe and Asian Webber rode their luck, playing some audacious 
shots to keep the Swansea hopes alive. With 50 required off less thgan 5 overs, the game dramatically 
took a huge swing Newport's way as Weber was out stumped off the bowling of Ilyas, for a courageous 
38 in just 25 balls. Rowe managed 30 not out, but a fine spell at the death from paceman Tegh Sehgal, 
which earned him figures of 1-34, as time ran out on Swansea who finished on 216-9, leaving 
Newport winners by 24 runs. 
Claiming the wickets for the Newport attack was Don Aberwardena 4-30 on debut and Mujahid Ilyas 3-53,
 but Nawaz's 0-23 off 10 was also a decisive factor in the Newport win.

  Don Aberwardena 3-40                 Mujahid Ilyas 3-53           Hasnain Nawaz 0-23 off 10 overs

Newport claimed 19 points whilst Swansea picked up 7pts. It's tight at the top of the table with St Fagans top with111 pts, 
Swansea 2nd with 110 points whilst Newport are in 3rd place with 107 points.

Match Scorecard
https://newportcc.play-cricket.com/Matches?tab=Result