Venue: The Neyland Community Hub
Umpires: Rob Bellerby & Huw Simpkins
Scorers: Johnny Lewis, Ginny Davies & Bobbie Neale, Sarah & Kacey Arran
Neyland (103 for 2) beat Cresselly (99 for 4) by 4 wickets
Congratulations to Neyland Cricket Club A team on retaining the Pembrokeshire Indoor Cricket League as they confirmed their place a while ago after already having taken a huge lead over Pembroke and Hook in second and third places, who will now play off next Monday for the right to join the champions in the forthcoming Welsh Finals.Opponents Cresselly deserve a mention because they started badly and they lost three young players as they stood at 25 for 3 in the fourth over – but then fought back well as 62 year old Neal Williams opened and came back a second time for his unbeaten innings, as did Lewis Jones, batting at No 5 and reaching a deserved unbeaten half century to set Neyland a three-figure target as he lashed six fours, all on the leg side.
And although Neyland made their traditionally strong start as Patrick Bellerby and Dai Davies put on 53 in the first over, with only one boundary as they ran 13 threes with some superb running between the wickets, before Bellerby retired having faced only 13 balls and Davies only 10 balls to reach his score, was run out like a dog by skipper Sean Hannon!
Sean was then joined by twin brother Patrick, who does such a great job as league organiser but unable to play weekly because of family commitments, and they only added 19 runs in the next four overs as Sean looked a little out of form, to fall slightly behind the clock. But Patrick, who had three to his name in facing three balls, then added another 27 in only nine deliveries, with two fours and a straight six to finish things off in style.The pair needed 22 off the last two overs but five threes and a single saw them back in control for the last six balls and they were worthy winners but credit to Cresselly for pushing them all the way as Griff Jenkins was the pick of their bowlers!
Cresselly Batting: Neal Williams 35*, Lewis Jones 51*
Neyland A Bowling: Andrew Miller 3-18, Dai Davies 0-15, Patrick Bellerby 0-15
Neyland A Batting: Patrick Bellerby 25*, Dai davies 18, Sean Hannon 18*. Patrick Hannon 30*
Cresselly Bowling: Griff Jenkins 1-32,
Hook (104 for 4) lots to Herbrandston A (105 for 1) by five wickets
Runner-up contenders Hook knew defeat of Herbrandston would secure them second spot but they failed to produce their best form and Herbie, who completed the job with one ball to spare, were good value for victory.Hook knew they needed a good start through Charlie Holder and Harry Makepeace, who got them off to a solid start as they respectively faced only 16 and 11 balls but once they departed close together then they lost their way a little until Owen Phelps provided vital impetus as he took only 13 balls to score his runs and Matthew Holder ended unbeaten and Bradley Flood chipped in before the latter was run out.
They left Herbie a challenging target of 105 runs to win and after Karl Davies departed early they went on the attack via the powerful Ashley Britton, who had a six and four, alongside a gritty knock by keeper Callum Power, who rapped three boundaries before retiring – and then Rob Kingston contributed 22 in 15 balls and skipper Robbie Hood rounded things off with a quick-fire double figure score, with ‘Mr Extras’ doing the same.
Harry Makepeace bowled well for Hook alongside Owen Phelps but they were unable to prevent Herbie from taking the honours – and Hook will now have to regroup before taking on Pembroke in the play-off for the Welsh Finals’ place alongside Neyland A.
Hook Batting: Charlie Holder 21, Harry Makepeace 21, Owen Phelps 30, Matthew Holder 13
Herbrandston A Bowling: Robbie Hood 1-24, Rob Kingston 1-24, Keegan Codd 0-11
Herbrandston A Batting: Ashley Britton 27, Callum Power 26*, Rob Kingston 22, Robbie Hood 10*, Extras 11
Hook Bowling: Harry Makepeace 1-13, Owen Phelps 0-14
Pembroke A (139 for 3) beat Pembs Seniors A (102 for 4) by 37 runs
Pembroke A were comfortable winners over Pembs Seniors A,, who were unable to snatch the verdict in any match but never gave up trying and enjoyed great camaraderie throughout the campaign, but it was Pembroke who earned the runners-up spot and now look forward to next week’s qualification match against Hook to see who competes in the Welsh Cup Finals.They made a cracking start via Luke Butler and Gareth Long, who is in a rich vein of form, and came close to a second half century in successive matches (from only 19 balls and including two fours and three sixes).– and keeper Butler supported well before retiring: as did Jack Harries, back in action and showing his form of old with two fours as he only used up 17 deliveries. Krunal Patel again reached the retirement tally and also bowled well
Their progress was slowed a little when tail-enders Jay Sutherland and Callum Davies were at the crease but both made an impact with the ball as 15 year old Jay grabbed two wickets in quick succession and Callum bowled three very tight overs – although another 24 extras in the Seniors’ innings could have cost them dearly against other teams.Andrew Williams was in good form as he led the vets’ innings but Jonathan Williams came and went before top run gatherer Nick Daly lasted only two deliveries against Sutherland. Alan Webster managed ten before getting run out again and David Haynes was back to something like his best with unbeaten runs at the end, including two fours.
Pembroke Batting: Luke Butler 26, Gareth Long 48*, Jack Harries 31*, Krunal Patel 26
Seniors A Bowling: Ian Milsom 1-27, Jonathan Williams 2-27
Seniors A Batting: Andrew Williams 37*, Alan Webster 10, David Haynes 23*, Extras 24
Pembroke Bowling: Jay Sutherland 2-34, Jack Harries 1-14, Callum Davies 0-15
