Gareth Bricknell led the Newport charge in the final. Picture by Peter Boam.
INDOOR CRICKET NEWPORT put on an indoor cricket masterclass to lift the Harwoods Renault Indoor Cup at the Fairway on Sunday night.
After outwitting GKN at the semi-final stages, ruthless Newport put opponents Ryde to the sword and won by almost 100 runs.
Newport opened the batting in the final and got off to an almost ridiculous start, smashing the ball around the hall with aplomb and racing to 78-1 off just five overs. They reached the 100 mark in the seventh, and eventually finished on 159-5.
Gareth Bricknell came close to getting his half century, eventually caught by Lawrence Tolfrey in the 11th over for 42. Nat Riddett supported with 30, with Louis Payne unbeaten on 23.
Ryde’s reply did not start well, when Mark Oatley was run out for just six, and then Julian Jayerajah was run out for a duck in the next ball.
Louis Payne then bowled a maiden in the second over to leave Ryde reeling.
Stuart Robertson departed for just two, the usually reliable Tolfrey could only muster eight runs, and then Rob Hobbs was out for a duck. Despite a valiant 29 from opener Jordan Galsworthy, the damage was well done, and Ryde fell for just 63.
Earlier, Newport had knocked out GKN in a similarly dominant performance. GKN had made 132, Martin Hartnell’s impressive 55 and Alan Johns’s 25 contributing to the total. Harris Payne and Bricknell, each with two wickets, did the bowling damage.
Newport knocked off the runs with two wickets and an over in hand, Tom Dye (28 not out) and Nat Riddett (25 not out) adding to the 35 extras which saw them over the line.
In the second semi-final, a disappointing Northwood lacked the batting power to get past Ryde. Ryde opened and made 126-3, all three of their wickets coming from run outs.
Oatley was the star player for Ryde, scoring an unbeaten 32, and then taking 3-22 as Northwood’s replay was stunted at just 93 (Gavin Paddock 42, Ash Goldsmith 19).
• More pictures in the Friday, November 2, County Press.
Reporter: sport@iwcpmail.co.uk