NEWPORT completed a T20 double by edging out Abergavenny by six runs in a thrilling Macey Shield finale.

The Spytty Park side headed into the game at Avenue Road fresh from their South Wales Premier League T20 final win against Swansea, who had beaten them in the Welsh Cup final.

Newport elected to bat after winning the toss made a fast start with openers Harry Friend and Josh Waughington posting the 50 partnership with some fine batting in the six overs of the power play.

The 70-run opening partnership was ended in the eighth over when Waughington was out for an excellent 41 off just 24 balls (2 sixes and 5 fours).

All-rounder Callum Taylor, a Glamorgan player thanks to his exploits in Newport, soon followed but Morgan Bevans made sure the momentum continued.

Friend was batting superbly at the other end and runs were always being scored at a fast rate.

The third wicket fell at 149 off 17.3 overs when Bevans was out for a good 32 off 21 balls.

Friend saw the innings through to the end with a magnificent 84 not out in just 60 balls, which included 8 fours, as the Newport innings closed on 185-4.

Abergavenny responded brightly with opener Greg Fury keen to score at every opportunity. While he was at the wicket Abergavenny were scoring freely, with the opening 50 scored in just six overs.

However, when Fury was out for 44 (2 sixes and 4 fours in 27 balls, stumped by Nathan Berry off the bowling of Taylor, Newport began to show some degree of control.

Captain William Glenn was joined by James Francis but was soon out for 15 at 88-3 off 11.2 overs and it was left to Francis and youngster Tom Norton to rescue the innings.

The pair added 56 in just five overs to take the Abergavenny score to 144-4 off 16.2 overs before Francis was clean bowled by Chris Hardy for 51 (32 balls).

A lot was resting on the shoulders of young Norton as a further wicket was taken and Abergavenny needed 30 to win off two overs.

When Norton hit the first two deliveries of the penultimate over for six, an upset was on the cards.

Bowlers Friend kept his nerve and 15 were still needed from the final six balls from Waughington, who produced a good over as Newport regained the control.

The final ball was hit for four but the visitors won by six runs with Norton finishing on 43 not out in 24 balls (2 fours and 3 sixes).

Newport have won two of their three finals and now play Cardiff, the Glamorgan and Vale winners, in the South East Wales final at Lisvane on Saturday (midday start).