Newport Cricket Club Celebrate Double After Cup Success

Newport Cricket Club have claimed a league and cup double this season, after a memorable victory at the weekend.

Newclose Cricket Club was the venue for the IOW Senior Cricket Cup Final between Newport and Northwood on Saturday (20). 

Gareth Bricknell lost the toss and the Newport boys were asked to have a bowl.

It was no surprise when opening bowler, Louis Payne, uprooted one of the Northwood opener’s middle stump early on, sending it cartwheeling out of the ground. Fellow opener Aaron Hartup continued his fine form and was unlucky not to get any early wickets, but started with two maiden overs.

Classy Northwood opening bat, Andy Harris, (21) looked in fine touch from the start, but after Payne took what looked like a painful tumble, the Newport paceman had him caught at first slip - a super and massively important grab by Tom Dye.

The opening bowlers had a well deserved rest and were replaced by Ash Brett and Adam Wilson, with the latter picking up two wickets in his first over  - both caught in the slips - firstly by Ryan Young who took an excellent chance to his right before the catch of the match and a second for Dye.

After some stubborn resistance from the middle order Northwood batsman, Brett then got in on the act, taking three quick wickets, leaving the Northwood innings in disarray. This included catches from the skipper as well as one for Kevin Winchcombe, who kept wicket flawlessly. There was a wicket each for the spin twins of Cam Beale and Harry Dye and one also for the returning Hartup. Despite some good, lusty blows from Dave Neale, who made a creditable half century with 51 no, Northwood were all out for 131.

After tea at Newport's soon to be new home at Newclose, the side's reply began with openers Brett and Winchcombe heading to the crease. However, no sooner had the former got to the wicket than he was on his way back after edging the second ball of the innings. This brought the top league and cup run scorer to the crease. Tom Dye was soon on his merry way and, alongside Winchcombe, the two batsman flayed the opening Northwood bowlers to the boundary regularly.

The run rate slowed up as Harris and Simon Goldsmith replaced the opening bowlers, but they weren’t able to make any inroads as the two Newport batters looked solid in defence. Winchcombe was given out lbw on 32 to the returning Nathan Goldsmith.

Skipper, Gareth Bricknell, came to the middle and supported Dye with 19, until Northwood captain, Ben Baker, brought himself on and picked up two quick wickets of Bricknell and Ryan Young. This brought Newport batsman Adam Wilson soon to the crease. He was soon in his stride, striking three quick boundaries to seal an emphatic six-wicket win with 13 over to spare. Tom Dye finished his match winning knock of 54 not out and later picked up the man of the match award.

Gareth Bricknell said:

"It’s been an incredible season for the club both on and off the pitch.We started the season off boosted by two fantastic IOW businesses Wight Shipyard and Emerald Construction sponsoring our playing and training kit.

"I’ve been so lucky to captain such a great bunch of lads and winning the double in my first season as skipper has been a nice touch. However, the biggest boost for our club this season has been the move to call Newclose Cricket Ground our new home."