Pembs under 12s just miss out

 

 

 

Pembrokeshire under 12s cricket team recently played West Glamorgan in a Welsh Competition match at Hook Cricket Club and only just ended up on the losing side as they battled hard throughout.

 

 

West Glamorgan won the toss and chose to bat first as Lewis Hough and Noah Davies opened the bowling for Pembrokeshire and bowled a tight line in their opening spells and were rewarded with a wicket apiece as both West Glamorgan openers were dismissed in the first six overs. Rhys Thomas was the only top order batsmen for West Glam to put up any real resistance, scoring a well-made 22.

 
But West Glam recovered well to score 50 runs in their last ten overs to help them finish on 140 for 7 in 40 overs. Kyle Salter top scored with 32, most of those coming in good time at the end of the innings.

 

 

Spinner Nathan Coaker was the pick of Pembrokeshire's bowlers, taking 2 for 23 in 6 overs. Harry Nicholas also bowled well, ending with 1 for 5 in 5 overs whilst John Mansbridge took the other wicket to fall.

The highlight of the fielding for Pembrokeshire had to be a terrific run out by Nikhil Mathias as he picked up the ball at midwicket, threw down the stumps at the bowlers end, just running out the surprised batsmen. 

 

 

Pembrokeshire's reply started slowly but steadily before opener John Mansbridge was dismissed for 11 with the score on 27 after ten overs. Wickets fell regularly over the next 20 overs as Pembrokeshire fell behind the required run rate as Keith Williams was West Glam’s best bowler with 4 for 30 in six overs. 

 

As the wickets tumbled, the Under 12s captain and opening bat Harry Nicholas showed plenty of grit, keeping his end up as wickets tumbled at the other end. Harry shared a partnership of 27 with his twin Jack as Pembrokeshire started a fight back. Harry was eventually caught at square leg for 31 as he tried to push on but his brother Jack continued where he had left off and pushed the run rate to try to reach the required total. 

 

 

Pembrokeshire finished just short in the end despite scoring 46 runs in the last ten overs, with West Glam winning by 14 runs. Jack Nicholas finished on 29 not out and West Glamorgan's Welsh keeper Nathan Lee must get a lot of praise for getting three stumpings during Pembrokeshire's innings.

 
So well done to both teams on a highly entertaining match.  Pembrokeshire Under 12's next two competition matches are away to Cardiff and then Mid Glam.