PHOTO:
Haverfordwest pace bowler Adam James took five crucial wickets
Town go top with easy win at The Racecourse
Haverfordwest (105 for 2) beat Llanrhian (104 all out) by 8 wickets
Umpires: Allan Hansen & Neil Croucher
Scorer: Jayne Cole (Haverfordwest)
Haverfordwest moved to the top of the table with an easy home win over a Llanrhian side already doomed to relegation and minus a number of key players, setting up a tense finale to the season after Neyland lost at Carew.
Town skipper Danny Potter won the toss and had no hesitation in asking Llanrhian to bat first in view of the possibility of rain.
It was a ploy that certainly worked because with pace men Adam James (5 for 20) and Adeel Khan (2 for 25) bowling well in tandem the visitors were dismissed for 104 runs in 34 overs as only Paul Lewis (29), Rhodri Owen (18) and Rhys Price (15) managed double figures as Simon Holliday (1 for 26) and Dai Davies (1 for 8) also got their names on the wicket-takers’ list.
The Town lost Nikhil Mathias and Davies by the time they had scored 33 but Holliday struck six fours and a six in his undefeated 55 and skipper Potter helped him to reach their target in only 18 overs with a speedy 35 not out that also included six boundaries and a big six.
Carew dent Neyland title hopes
Carew (180 for 6) beat Neyland (96 all out) by 84 runs
Umpires: Denis Chiffi & Huw Davies
Scorers: Julie Davies & John Laugharne
Neyland’s hopes of regaining the championship title were dented as they went down to a comfortable defeat against a determined Carew side, setting up an action-packed final Saturday where they will hope to recoup top place after leading for so much of the season and actually being 50 points ahead three weeks ago!Put in to bat, Carew batted sensibly throughout their innings against the bowling of Andrew Miller (3 for 37), Geraint Rees (2 for 18) and Nick Koomen (1 for 42) alongside Gary Lloyd and Patrick Bellerby
Brian Hall topped the home batting with 50, assisted by Nick Scourfield (26), Sean Whitfield (43), James Hinchliffe (26) and Rhys Davies (22 not out).
When Neyland batted they had runs from Koomen (28), Ashley Sutton (14), Gregg Miller (17) and his brother Andrew (12) but tight spells by Neil Gregory (1 for 10), Whitfield (1 for 21) and Iori Hicks (2 for 13) allowed skipper Rhys Davies to complete the victory with a 5 for 30 haul that now sees Neyland trail by two points in the race for the silverware!
PHOTO:
Ashley Sutton scored 14 for Neyland who lost at Carew
Picture by Brian McKehon
Tish plunge Narberth further into the relegation mire
St Ishmaels (201 for 5) beat Narberth (55 all out) by 146 runs
Umpires: Les Hastings & Tony Pasternak
Scorers: Wendy Bradshaw & Emma Richards
Narberth’s disturbing descent down the Division One table saw them plunge into the bottom two as they lost by a massive margin of 146 runs at St Ishmaels and then learned that relegation rivals Johnston had successfully chased down a target of 287 for the loss of only one wicket!Tish’s score stood at an ordinary 86 for 3 in 28 overs as Peter Bradshaw (35) and Andrew Williams (30) made useful contributions but then they accelerated via Phil Cockburn’s excellent 68 not out (seven fours and a six) as Brennan Devonald gave solid support with 33 not out against Owen Richards (2 for 34), Ben Quartermaine (1 for 47), Jordan Howell (1 for 43) and Ben Hughes (1 for 54) in the Narberth bowling attack.
But only skipper Ben Quartermaine (28) and opener Ritchie Adams (11) stayed long enough to reach double figures as Andrew palmer grabbed an early 2 for 27 haul and then ‘spin twins’ Danny Flynn (4 for 7 in seven overs) and Andrew Pawlett (4 for 8 in 3.2 overs) saw Narberth bundled out in 24.2 overs – and the chance to still stay in the top section as they entertain Johnston in a winner takes all clash at the Lewis Lloyd Ground on Saturday!
Phil Cockburn - 68 not out in easy Tish win
PHOTO:
Adam Chandler finished on 144 not out for Cresselly
Sutton and Mills boys steer Johnston to an amazing win
Johnston (289 for 1) beat Cresselly (286 for 3) by 9 wickets
Umpires: Steve Blowes & Rob Bellerby
Scorers: Natalie Thomas & Casey Cartwright
There were runs galore at Glebelands as Cresselly amassed a mammoth total of 286 for 3 in their allotted 45 overs and Johnston successfully chased it down for the loss of only one wicket with over three overs in hand, leaving local pundits to scratch their heads whether there has ever been a game with a greater runs per wicket average than this one!It was amazing stuff for Johnston as batsmen Dan Sutton, Steve and Jack Mills gave their side a real hope of avoiding relegation with one game left.
Johnston’s hopes of early wickets were dashed as Cresselly opened with Phil Williams (35) and Chandler, who was clearly in run-making mode from the outset with a stream of boundaries.
Neal Williams chipped in with 14 runs and Iwan Izzard provided added impetus with a typically hard-hitting 70 made in quick time and including seven fours and three big sixes – whilst at the other end Chandler went smoothly about his business with 19 fours and a six in his splendid 144 not out that helped Cresselly set a massive tally for Johnston to try and chase down as the only home bowlers to taste a modicum of success were Chris Fitzpatrick (2 for 53) and Lee Summons (1 for 71).
Steve Mills (69, including nine fours and two sixes) joined Daniel Sutton in another big opening stand before Mills was adjudged lbw to Matthew Webb.
But Jack Mills showed he can emulate his big brother with an undefeated 60 (five fours and two sixes) as Sutton stroked his way to an outstanding innings of 147 not out (13 fours and a six) – and Johnston moved out of the bottom two with this amazing result!
Dan Sutton - magnificent knock for Johnston
Whitland battle to big win
Whitland (202 for 7) beat Lawrenny (201 for 7 Dec) by 3 wickets
Umpires: John Williams & Jon Willington
Scorers: Ann-Marie Jenkins & Malcolm Thomas
Whitland showed true grit as they chased down a large Lawrenny total after the visitors to Springhill Park had declared on 201 for 7 in 39 overs but couldn’t halt a successful Whitland counter, orchestrated by Will Spreadbury.Lawrenny’s total stood at a reasonable 123 for 4 in 27 overs but although they lost three more wickets they were able to declare after 39 overs having added another 78 runs thanks to the big-hitting exploits of skipper Brad McDermott-Jenkins, who had eight fours and three sixes in his innings before he was adjudged lbw to Matthew Davies (3 for 69) just two runs short of a century.
Harry Thomas (42) and Steve Campbell (19) also scored runs for Lawrenny as Wayne Howells (3 for 50) and Jonathan Thomas (1 for 61) joined Davies as the successful Whitland bowlers.
Spreadbury had 11 boundaries and two big sixes in his top score of 88 as Matthew Davies (39), Martin Thomas (24) and Jonathan Thomas (12) gave a measure of support against Harry Thomas (3 for 25), Rob Williams (1 for 35), Jamie Lewis (1 for 35) and Alistair Edwards (1 for 38) so that Whitland eased home in 39.4 overs.