Welsh Cup heartbreak for Northop Hall on a weekend of frustration

Will Higginson so nearly guided Northop Hall to the Welsh Cup final. Picture: Gareth Prestidge

WELSH CRICKET CUP SEMI-FINALS

NORTHOP HALL 170-10 (40) NEWPORT 172-9 (40)

It was even more heartbreaking this time for Northop Hall!

Defeated by Newport in the 2008 Welsh Cup Final with three balls to spare, in today’s semi-final at Smithy Lane 13 years on, Hall lost by just two runs to the South Wales Premier League side.

Newport won the toss and elected to bat, setting 172-9 off their 40 overs, Imran Hassan top-scoring with 72.

For the hosts, Darren Leach picked up 3-15, Joshua Andrady 2-25 and Jac Kennedy 2-41.

In reply, the Flintshire side looked pretty much out of it at 93-7, but an heroic 67 from skipper Will Higginson took them to the brink.

Imran Hassan was Newport’s match-winner. Here he is up against Northop Hall wicket-keeper Ben Slater. Picture: GARETH PRESTIDGE

When Higginson was out caught, the Liverpool Competition Division One hosts stood at 148-8.

Still hope, but despite a late 27 not out from Will Edwards, the Hall innings closed on 170 off the final ball.

Charlie Stewart cleaned up the tail with 3-29, ensuring Newport will take on Swansea in the final.

LIVERPOOL AND DISTRICT COMPETITION
1ST XI FIRST DIVISION

Northop Hall (9) 222-7 dec Old Xaverians (5) 133-9

Twenty-four hours before their Welsh Cup semi-final, Northop Hall came within a wicket of victory in a league clash at home to Old Xaverians.

Put into bat, Hall posted 222-7 declared off 48.1 overs, opener Harrison Jones hitting 90 not out and Joshua Andrady 85, the pair putting on 132 for the sixth wicket after the hosts had dipped to 60-5.

Old Xavs were all but buried in reply on 119-9, but the last wicket pair held on till the end, adding another 14 runs.

Will Edwards notched 3-40, Kieran New 2-24 and Jac Kennedy 2-26 for the home team, who claimed the better of the points 9-5.