Pembrokeshire (204 for 8) beat Cardiff and the Vale (152 all out)
Pembs under 12s recently travelled to Cardiff Cricket Club to take on Cardiff and the Vale in a Welsh Cup Match. Pembrokeshire's captain Harry Nicholas won the toss and chose to bat first on a boiling hot day in the Welsh Capital.
Good start for Pembs
Cardiff opened the bowling with Welsh under 11s captain Teg Phillips bowling off spin and he kept things tight at one end but Pembrokeshire's openers found runs easier to come by at the other. Harry Nicholas eventually fell for four runs with Pembrokeshire having made a good start on 39 after 11 overs as Phillips finished with 1 for 10 in 8 overs.
Ollie Wheeler batted well at the top of the order, giving Pembrokeshire a good start with four fours in his 29. Pembrokeshire were 69 for 3 after 17 overs when Noah Davies joined Lloyd Bartlett at the crease. The run rate soon increased with both batsmen dispatching Cardiff's seam and spin bowlers to the boundary at regular intervals. One of the most memorable boundaries was when Noah smashed a six over the mid wicket boundary.
Super century partnership
A terrific 110 run partnership between Noah and Lloyd came to an end when Noah was caught behind for 34 off 42 balls. His wicket fell in the 36th over with both batsmen trying to push on and reach a big total. Lloyd Bartlett fell soon after, being caught at square leg for a brilliantly made 63 which came off 77 balls. Lloyd hit eight fours as he took the attack to the Cardiff bowlers. Pembrokeshire lost a flurry of late wickets but Jack Wilson (12no) managed to hit a few fours at the death to get his team to a commanding 204 for 8 after 40 overs.
County apply pressure in the field
Pembrokeshire's opening bowlers Harry and Noah bowled tight lines and kept runs down as Cardiff only managed to reach 20 after 10 overs. But with both openers still at the crease Cardiff managed to kick on, reaching 51 in the 14th over before losing their first wicket. Then spinner Nathan Coaker took the first three wickets to fall for only 25 runs, all clean bowled as he helped peg Cardiff back. Ioan Lloyd top scored for Cardiff with 31 and the only other batsmen who managed to get going though was Iestyn Fenn, who scored 26no towards the end.
Real team effort – and a great win
Pembrokeshire managed to take wickets at regular intervals to halt Cardiff's chase with Ollie Wheeler (3 for 17) and Noah Davies (1 for 27) bowling really well. But it was left to Pembrokeshire's star man on the day to have the final say. Having already scored 63, and taken two catches, Lloyd Bartlett took 2 for 14 in 6 overs and finished the game off in style, clean bowling the last batsmen to secure victory for Pembrokeshire by 52 runs.
A real team effort from the Under 12s with bat, ball and in the field saw them home in the end. Pembrokeshire's bowlers and fielders fought back well from when Cardiff were 77 for 1 in 18 to have them 128 for 7 in 34. In the field they never let up and the bowlers showed great control with only 6 wides compared to Cardiff's 26.
Pembrokeshire team as pictured -
(Back Row) Simon Williams (coach), Nikhil Mathias (Hwest), Lloyd Bartlett (Hook), Jack Wilson (Neyland), Nathan Coaker (Narberth), Tyler Page (Hwest), Noah Davies (Hook)
(Front Row) John Mansbridge (Saundersfoot), Ollie Wheeler (Narberth), Harry and Jack Nicholas (Neyland), Aled Phelps (Hook).
Super second win for county’s talented under 12s
Mid Glamorgan under 12s (147 for 5) lost to Pembrokeshire under 12s (151 for 6)
Pembrokeshire under 12s travelled to Mid Glamorgan on a lovely sunny Sunday and made it two consecutive wins on the road by beating a strong Mid Glamorgan team who elected to bat first.
Stumper ‘Scrivs’ starts well
Openers Will Clapham and Will Richards started well for Mid Glam reaching 41 in 12 overs. Noah Davies was incredibly unlucky not to claim a wicket in a tight opening spell of 0 for 4 in 5 overs. Pembrokeshire's first change bowlers Ollie Wheeler and Harry Nicholas then put the squeeze on, restricting Mid Glam to only another 11 runs in the next 8 overs.
Wheeler made the break through removing Will Clapham for a well-made 27, thanks to Jack Scriven’s quick hands in taking the stumping. Ollie was sharp in the field throughout the game as well getting two run outs, assisted both times again by 'Scrivs' behind the stumps.
Mansbridge brothers combine well
Mid Glamorgan batted sensibly throughout, losing only five wickets by the end with Will Richards (17), Iestyn Parsons (17) and Owain Lewis (27) all contributing to get their team to 147 for 5 after 40 overs. Noah Davies (1 for 19 in 8) and Tom Mansbridge (1 for 19 in 7) were Pembrokeshire's other wicket takers.
The most memorable moment for Pembrokeshire in the field came when Tom Mansbridge was bowling in the 25th over. Opener Will Richards swept Tom to backward square where brother John Mansbridge took an amazing diving catch, which was a great moment for their parents Paul and Sarah, who were watching.
Solid stand from Jack and Nik
Pembrokeshire lost a wicket in the second over of their run chase but Jack Nicholas and Nik Mathias steadied the innings, with both batting sensibly and running well between the wickets. They shared a 57 run partnership before Nik was stumped in the 15th over. Pembrokeshire lost wickets at regular intervals in their innings but did well to not let that effect the run rate. Jack Nicholas came agonisingly close to his first 50 as he scored a very well made 45 which included 7 fours, most of which were timed to perfection.
Powerhouse Noah
Noah Davies came to the crease after Jack got out and played some amazing attacking shots. Noah scored four runs in his first 10 balls before smashing six fours, the best of which was a lovely timed straight drive straight past the bowler. Noah was caught behind with the score on 125 after 26 overs, and he ended on 29 off just 18 balls.
Good finish to a good win
Lewis Hough batted well contributing 11 before Jack Scriven (10no) was joined by Ollie Wheeler (16no) at the crease. Both batted well, scoring quick runs to see Pembrokeshire home. Ollie Wheeler hit the winning runs as Pembrokeshire saw off the required total in only 29.5 overs.
It was a cracking win for Pembs under 12s at the end of a memorable week. Two wins, both away from home, with over 350 runs scored.
Next up for the Pembrokeshire youngsters is a tour to Bath in August.
Pembrokeshire team - Harry (Captain) and Jack Nicholas (Neyland), Nikhil Mathias, Jonny White, Jack Scriven (Haverfordwest), Lloyd Bartlett and Noah Davies (Hook), Tom and John Mansbridge (Saundersfoot), Lewis Hough and Ollie Wheeler (Narberth).