PHOTO:
Whitland centurian Jonathan Thomas smashes a six
Thomas triumphs in Whitland win
Cresselly (116 all out) lost to Whitland (200 all out)
Umpires: Arthur Brady & Rob CousinsScorers: Dave Richards & Janice Webb
Whitland all-rounder Jonathan Thomas was the undoubted man of the match at Cresselly as he top scored with a superb 111 and then used his off-spin to good effect to claim 2 for 4 as his team won by 84 runs to claim maximum bonus points.
The visitors struggled to 41 for 4 before Thomas was joined at the crease by Adam Davies, and this pair shared a stand of 87 before Davies departed for 42 (five fours). Iestyn Scourfield (18) and Owain Edwards (13) also managed double figures but it was Thomas who stayed in control before he was finally caught on the boundary by Nick Davies off Steff Jenkins, looking to increase his total 15 fours and two sixes, having helped Whitland to a good score that certainly did not seem likely at one stage.
Lyn Richards (3 for 14) and Stefan Jenkins (3 for 41) were the pick of the Cresselly bowlers, assisted by Tom Murphy (1 for 57) and Mike Shaw (1 for 48) but their batting lacked conviction against Thomas, Dan James (2 for 32), Scott Newton (2 for 21) and the redoubtable Mark Lee (4 for 32).
Only Cresselly skipper Phil Williams (30) ever stayed long and there were cameos from Murphy, Tom Arthur and Stefan Jenkins in defeat.
Llanrhian spring surprise result of the day
Llanrhian (152 for 7) beat Neyland (147 all out)
Umpires: Tony Waldeis & David LoosmoreLlanrhian caused the shock of the day as they beat previously unbeaten champions Neyland by five runs in a real spine-tingler at Llandigige Fawr where Henry Durrant and Gary Lloyd, the last pair for Neyland, advanced the score from 118 for 9 before Lloyd was adjudged LBW to Dominic Wright off the last ball of the 44th over.
Llanrhian had Matthew Bennett (41) as top scorer, assisted by steady knocks fro Ben Jones (20), Gareth Davies (15), Dominic Wright (15) and Geraint Morris (10) but they kept building starts and then getting out. Andrew Miller (3 for 3) was again Neyland’s chief wicket taker alongside Nick Koomen (2 for 28), Gary Lloyd (1 for 22) and Henry Durrant (1 for 22) as Neyland would have settled to chase that sort of score at the start of the game.
But they were soon in trouble at 48 for 6 before Scott Jones scored 36 and had support from Durrant (22 not out), Ashley Sutton (16), Nick Koomen (13), Sean Hannon (18) and Paul Miller (14). Luke Jones (4 for 27) and Matthew Bennett (3 for 42) joined Gareth Davies (1 for 21) as the Llanrhian wicket-takers before Wright struck late on – and they celebrated at The Sloop in some style afterwards!
Town hold on for a tame draw
Carew (253 for 5) drew with Haverfordwest (168 for 6)
Umpires: John Williams & Dai MorrisScorers: Julie Davies & Jayne Cole
Carew got their stop-start season back on track as they were too strong for top of the table Haverfordwest but The Town managed to hold on for the draw.
Ian Sefton and Nick Scourfield were soon in run-gathering mode and boundaries came at an increasing rate as they benefitted from two dropped catches that The Town fielders would normallyexpect to pouch.
Sefton struck a typically belligerent 96, including 12 fours and four sixes, whilst Scourfield was the perfect foil with six fours and three sixes in his excellent 65, as they shared a san opening stand of 157 in 34 overs before Clive Tucker bowled Sefton.
Tucker finished with 4 for 65 alongside ‘spin twin’ Simon Holliday (1 for 49) but a late 33 not out blitzed by Rhys Davies helped Carew to a massive score of 253 for 5 at tea.
Haverfordwest skipper Dan Potter led his team’s response with 52 runs (seven fours) and he had some support from Huw Scriven (23), Johnnie Strawbridge (25) and Nigel Delaney (22 not out) but The Town were unable to haul their way back after a shaky start against Tim Hicks (2 for 26) Shaun Whitfield (2 for 35) Thom Davies (1 for 19) and Rhys Davies (1 for 50).
Ian Sefton struck a belligerent 96 for Carew
Lawrenny win a last-gasp battle
Lawrenny (173 for 9) beat Saundersfoot (172 for 5)
Umpires: Tony Scourfield & Ian PhillipsScorers: Malcolm Thomas & Adge John
Lawrenny showed their battling qualities as they edged home by one wicket in the final over of their basement battle with Saundersfoot.
Paul Mansbridge had led the Saundersfoot batting with a typically stylish 58 (nine fours) as he shared a second-wicket stand of 89 with Jack Franklyn (39), supported by Jack Franklyn (16) and Simon Wood (33).
For Lawrenny, there were wickets for Rob Williams (1 for 37), Steve Lewis (1 for 29) and Alistair Edwards (3 for 43).
Steve Lewis (43) and Andrew Cole (36) had helped Lawrenny chase well alongside Hugh Griffiths (18) and 25 from ‘Mr Extras’ as Sam and Jack Franklyn bowled well for Saundersfoot with respective figures of 4 for 32 and 4 for 49.
Rob Williams (15 not out) was joined by Jamie Lewis as the last pair for Lawrenny with both teams in with a chance – and it was Williams who steered Lawrenny home with a couple of balls to spare!
Narberth get the better of high-scoring draw
St Ishmaels (210 for 6) drew with Narberth (227 for 8)
Umpires: Les Hastings & Allan HansenScorers: Wendy Bradshaw & Peter Hughes
Narberth claimed the bulk of the draw points at St Ishmaels as they scored 227 for 8 before the home side stayed the pace well in their 210 for 6 response.
Narberth batted first and their challenging tally owed much to a sparkling second-innings partnership of 122 between Marc Hughes and Jordan Howell after they had lurched to a shaky 5 for 2 start.
Howell, who now looks a fine all-round prospect, topped the scoring chart with a classy 82 (including 14 boundaries) whilst Hughes confirmed his batting pedigree with an innings of 70 (ten fours). Ben Quartermaine (28) and Kamal Sharma (11) also managed double figures as Matthew Phillips (3 for 54), Andrew Williams (3 for 60) and Andrew Pawlett (1 for 55) were the Tish wicket takers.
Peter Bradshaw topped the Tish reply with 52 runs (eight fours) alongside Dan Howells (36), Andrew Williams (41) and Phil Cockburn (39 not out) as Ben Quartermaine and Matthew Johns shared four wickets for Narberth as Tish rarely looked in danger of capitulating.