PHOTO:
Ben Field smashes a boundary for The Town
Picture by Susan McKehon
The Town extend their lead at the top
Cresselly (164 all out) lost to Haverfordwest (211 all out) by 47 runs
Umpires: Trefor Evans & Ian Phillips
Scorers: Glyn Cole/Colin Murphy & Jayne Cole
Haverfordwest extended their lead at the top of the table with an excellent win over Cresselly after they batted first and scored 211 all out before dismissing the opposition for a score of 164 that owed much to some huge hitting by Brad McDermott-Jenkins.
He struck nine fours and five sixes as he sped to 81 in only 48 deliveries and whilst he was at the crease Cresselly had a real chance, so when he was caught on the boundary by Jonathan Strawbridge off Simon Holliday the visitors’ delight was palpable.
Haverfordwest enjoyed an excellent opening stand of 137 from Holliday (57) and Ben Field (70) before both departed close together, so that only Dai Davies (17) and Adam James (16) looked remotely comfortable against Cresselly’s two-pronged spin attack of Ryan Lewis (2 for 57) and Mike Shaw (7 for 42).
Shaw rounded off an impressive afternoon’s bowling with a hat-trick as he shifted Huw Scriven, Josh Wilment and Clive Tucker, all clean bowled as The Town were forced to settle on 211 all out.
Adam Chandler (36) joined McDermott-Jenkins as the mainstays of the Cresselly batting but Adam James (3 for 15), Josh Wilment (2 for 41), Holliday (3 for 39) and Dai Davies (2 for 9) picked up wickets for The Town, who now lead the table by 24 points.
Neyland inflict first defeat on Carew
Neyland (141 for 5) beat Carew (140 for 9) by five wickets
Umpires: Dave Brandon & John Williams
Scorers: John Laugharne & Julie Davies
Neyland bounced back into the title chase as they beat Carew in an absorbing clash at the Athletic Ground between two very strong and committed sides.
Batting first, Carew lost the key wickets of Ian Sefton and Brian Hall, plus Nick Scourfield a little later, as they struggled to come to terms with the spin/pace attack provided for Neyland by Gary Lloyd (2 for 25 in 11 accurate overs) and Patrick Hannon (4 for 36 in his 12 overs).
Tom Davies topped the batting for Carew with a well-constructed 56 and Ceri Brace gave support with his 25 but with Andrew Miller (2 for 26) and Henry Durrant (1 for 17) chipping in for Neyland the visitors had to settle for 140 for 9 from their allotted 45 overs.
Skipper Rhys Davies (2 for 26), Sean Whitfield, Tom Davies and Neil Gregory all bowled economical spells for Carew but although Neyland lost early wickets they batted steadily, led by key all-rounder Nathan Banner (53 not out), who shared a key partnership with Jonty Bennett (16 not out) after Nick Koomen (23) and Ashley Sutton (17) had also made contributions as the home side won with 17 balls to spare.
Tom Davies struck a workmanlike half century for Carew
Borderers hang on for deserved draw
Whitland (171 for 8) drew with Johnston (193 for 8)
Umpires: Arthur Brady & Dai Morris
Scorers: Janice Webb & Delyth Summons
There were plenty of runs at Whitland as Johnston scored 193 for 8 before the home side held on for a deserved draw at 171 for 8.
Dan Sutton (15) and Steve Mills (41) got Johnston off to a solid start but their final total owed a great deal to new recruit Mikey Jones, who stroked eight boundaries in his 80 as only Jason Davies managed double figures in support with 15 not out.
Whitland combined experience with youth in their bowling attack as Dan James (2 for 37), Mark Lee (2 for 49), Wayne Howells (1 for 35) and Jack Bowen (2 for 41) were their wicket-takers.
Dylan Blain led the Whitland reply with six boundaries in his classy 56, assisted by skipper Matthew Davies (29), Matthew Webb (12), Kevin Pearce (13), and Iestyn Scourfield, who saw them to safety on 22 not out.
For Johnston, there were wickets for Steve Mills (2 for 35), Kevin Roberts (2 for 34), Lee Scourfield (2 for 34) Jason Davies (1 for 33) and Jack Mills (1 for 14) but they were unable to take those vital last two wickets – although they did secure the lion’s share of the points as consolation.
Mikey Jones was Johnston's top scorer with 80
Pawlett powers Tish to eight-wicket win
St Ishmaels (168 for 2) beat Llanrhian (165 all out) by eight wickets
Umpires: Rob Bellerby & Mervyn John
Scorer: Wendy Bradshaw
A superb innings of 97 not out by Jonathan Pawlett helped St Ishmaels to an eight-wicket success over Llanrhian as he shared an unbroken stand of 146 with Andrew Williams which saw them home with 17 balls still in hand.
The Llanrhian total of 165 all out, made in 44.2 overs, owed almost everything to the big-hitting Jack Jones, who scored a classy undefeated 80 as only Gareth Davies (14), Paul Lewis and Richard Reed (18 apiece) could muster double figures against a varied Tish attack in which spin bowlers Andrew Pawlett (3 for 36) and Daniel Flynn (3 for 37) posed the major threat, with support from Brennan Devonald (1 for 24) and Andrew Williams (2 for 28).
Jones also featured with the ball for Llanrhian as he shifted Tish openers Karl Rhead and Brennan Devonald cheaply in his 2 for 45 analysis but Pawlett smote 16 fours and a six as he finished a tantalising three runs short of a deserved century, with Andrew Williams again supplying just the right support at the other end with his unbeaten 36, which included three fours and a six.
Jack Jones on his way to making 80 at Tish, as home keeper Steve Hartley looks on
Rob routs Llangwm batting
Llangwm (92 all out) lost to Lawrenny (181 for 8) by 89 runs
Umpires: John Austin & Allan Hansen
Scorers: Ollie Davies & Malcolm Thomas
Put in to bat, Lawrenny lost early wickets but Patrick Elliott (21) and James Buckle (33) steadied things down before Hugh Griffiths hit 57 (eight fours) and Ian Jenkins (22 not out) helped their side to a healthy final total as Matthew Kiff (2 for 48) and Toby Asson (2 for 23) were the pick of the Llangwm bowling force.
Then Williams charged down the slope for his five-wicket haul, assisted by Jamie Lewis (1 for 26) and Alistair Edwards (3 for 45) as only Phil Llewellyn (21), Toby Asson (19) and James Lewis (21 not out) ever stayed long for the home side.