ON A warm, but breezy Saturday afternoon, Newport took on Arreton in the final of the Senior Cup at Newclose Cricket Ground.
Ash Brett and Kev Winchcombe opened the innings for Newport and had to contend with some tight bowling from Rob Wilcox and Kev Cooper.
After a steady start, Winchcombe dragged a wider delivery on to his stumps and was bowled out by Wilcox.
Captain Gareth Bricknell was next to the crease, followed by Adam Wilson.
The latter, and Brett, helped to settle the innings down and see off a tricky opening pair of bowlers.
Brett (47) eventually feathered an edge behind, which was well caught by an acrobatic Tristan Eccott behind the stumps.
Adam Wilson hit a half-century alongside new batsman Mike Herbert, who hit a quick-fire 20 before being bowled out by Kieran Tarrant; the bowler’s second scalp of the afternoon.
All-rounder Louis Payne joined Wilson in the middle, and the latter hit an important century to hold the home side’s innings together.
Wilcox and Gary Cooper finished the innings well for Arreton, picking up the wickets of Payne, Wilson, Hartup and Lovegrove, with Newport accruing an imposing 266-9 from their 45 overs.
After the break, opener Gary Cooper got the team off to a great start, swatting Aaron Hartup away.
But he soon became one of the six victims of Newport bowler Glenn Lovegrove.
Lovegrove was a man possessed, bowling a controlled line and length which forced several Arreton batsmen into playing across the line and being caught out or bowled.
Arreton’s innings unravelled quickly, with only Tony Blaize hitting double figures as his side were bowled out for 66.
Hartup, Louis Payne and Cam Beale took a wicket apiece, and Newport won by exactly 200 runs.
Lovegrove was awarded man of the match for his incredible spell of eight overs, six wickets, for ten runs.
House Rules
We do not moderate comments, but we expect readers to adhere to certain rules in the interests of open and accountable debate.