Newport Double Sees both the 1st X1 and 3rd/4th X1 through to Macey Cup and Bowl Finals.

Newport 1st X1 Enjoy their Semi Final Win Against Usk in the Macey Cup (SF)

Having previously lost Home ground advantage, due to the first meeting being rained off, Newport travelled 
to Usk for the Semi Final replay of the Macey Cup, with 5 teenagers in the team. Newport won the toss and 
batted and Michael Clayden and Harry Friend got them off to  a good start scoring 60 for the 1st wicket, 
before Friend was out for a good 36. Clayden (23), soon followed at 72-3 off 10 overs and it was left to 
Mujahid Ilyas and Mike Provis to form a 55 run partnership in just 44 balls, taking the score to 127-4 off 
17.2 overs, before Ilyas was out for 36 off 30 balls. A final flurry of runs took the Newport score to a respectable 
156-6 off their 20 overs, Provis ending on a run a ball 24no.

Usk in reply got off to the worst possible start with Tom Norton run out by Harry Friend for just 1 as Usk slipped 
to 4-1. This brought Billy Root, the current Glamorgan player and brother of England's Joe, to the crease. He 
remained a threat, and was involved in small partnerships with Elliot Doyle (19) and Tamoor Zahar, before 
young Jak Cosker claimed the wicket of Tamoor (24) with the Usk total on 70-3 off 9.2 overs. With the scores 
almost identical, a close game was brewing, but with Usk slight favourites the game was turned on 
its head with the introduction of young leg spinner Kameel Sahabdeen. Bowling a tight spell he soon claimed 
2 wickets as Usk fell to 123-5 off 16.3 overs. With 34 runs required in 21 balls, Usk were pinning their hopes on 
Root who was not out on 54. However, Newport had other ideas and it was Sahabdeen who first frustrated 
and then claimed the prize wicket of Root for 59 in the 19th over, with the Usk score on 134-6. With 22 needed 
off the final over it was left to the experienced Mike Clayden to see the game out with Newport winning by 10 runs. 
Sahabdeen finished with match winning figures of 3-16 in 4 overs.
The win sees Newport through to the Macey Final for the 4th consecutive year, where they will play the winners 
of the Malpas / Abergavenny semi final tie. The Macey Final will be played at Malpas on Sunday, July 21st, with 
the Gwent winners playing the Cardiff & Vale winners straight after.

The 3rd/4th Team had already clinched their Final spot in the newly formed Macey Bowl Competition, (for teams 
in Division 4 and Below). Playing against Llanarth at Llanarth in their Semi Final tie, they were indebted to a fine 43 
by Darnell Taylor-Wood, who put on 72 with Lakshan Liyanage (23) for the 1st wicket. A final total of 147 in 18 overs, 
was enough to beat Llanarth, who were never far behind the run rate, but left it too late and never quite managed to 
score enough runs in the final overs, eventually losing by 14 runs. Will Heath carrying his bat throughout the innings, 
scoring an unbeaten 66 for Llanarth.

The Macey Bowl Final will be held on Sunday, July 28th against Pontymister, followed by the Gwent and Cardiff & Vale 
winners straight afterwards.
The Venue for the Bowl Final is to be determined