Burton bag semi-final slot
Burton (155 for 7) beat Lamphey (137 all out) by 18 runs
Umpires: Ian Milsom and Glyn Cole
Scorers: Cerys Griffiths and Helen Hodges
Burton moved into the semi-final of the Harrison-Allen Bowl with a win over Lamphey at Oatfield Park in an entertaining tussle against Lamphey which was a credit to both clubs.
Put in to bat by Lamphey skipper Rob Mathias the home side reached a healthy tally of 155 for 7 thanks to some healthy hitting by Jonathan Venables, James Davies, Luke Hayman and Dan Ridge – and then restricted Lamphey to 137 all out with three balls remaining, despite a powerful innings by keeper Lewis Haines, as The Stags were always a little behind the clock.
Yet Burton made an awful start as David Blackwell not only bowled a maiden over but had key run-maker Toby Hayman beautifully caught at point by Thomas Powell.
Productive partnership
But Jon Venables and James Davies steadied the ship after a couple of potential banana skins from run out chances, and Venables being dropped by Haines off Blackwell – and by the 15th over they had shared a productive partnership of 95 runs before Venables was well caught at deep mid-wicket by Scott Brunton off Connor Carroll for 47, made in 42 balls and including two fours and two sixes.
James Davies had a classy 52 before he fell soon afterwards, with six fours and a pulled six to his name – well caught at deep backward square by Nick Shelmerdine off Blackwell, doing well to stay inside the boundary fence.
Late charge by Hayman and Ridge
Morgan Scale departed cheaply but then skipper Luke Hayman and Dan Ridge pressed the accelerator, with Hayman smashing three fours and a six in is 22 and Ridge belting two massive sixes in his 20, the second as big as I’ve seen at Burton for a long time.
Both departed, caught by Haines, before the Burton innings ended up with their challenging score as Blackwell (3 for 34), Peter McGilloway (2 for 42) and Connor Carroll (1 for 50) were the Lamphey wicket-takers.
Haines hits out well but Lamphey fail to gain momentum
James Davies completed a very good individual performance with 2 for 18 in his six overs
and was joined by big brother Jack (2 for 25) in halting Lamphey hopes of a flier but Haines showed what a big hitter he can be with six fours and a big six before he departed for 46 and Nick Shelmerdine gave some impetus with 26, including a four and a mighty maximum but only Thomas Powell (10) managed double figures as Luke Hayman grabbed 1 for 4 alongside Dan Llewellyn (1 for 30) and the challenge of scoring 26 off the last over was never going to happen as Burton can now look forward to a last-four clash against Haverfordwest.
Skipper Cockburn takes Tish through
St Ishmaels (156 for 6) beat Lawrenny (155 for 5) by 4 wickets
Umpires: Allan Hansen and Dave Brandon
Scorers: Wendy Bradshaw and Malcolm Thomas
A captain’s knock from Phil Cockburn gave St Ishmaels an exciting win over Lawrenny – and secured The Mice a first Bowl semi-final since 2016.
He cracked 55 not out, 20 of which came in boundaries, as the home side chased down 156 with 12 balls to spare.
The morning mist and rain had made it likely that whoever won the toss would field, and skipper Cockburn opted to do just that.
Lawrenny started well though, with openers Harry Thomas and Kurtis Marsh (15) reaching 34-0 before the latter went in bizarre circumstances. He miss-hit a Jordan Milich delivery to Andrew Pawlett who spilled the chance at mid-off, but recovered in time to instigate a run out as the batsmen hesitated in the middle.
Joined by Kyle Marsh, Thomas kept going though and cracked a maximum off Brennan Devonald as the visitors began to build a solid platform.
Pawlett strikes to turn the tide – but Kidney fights back
At 61-1 it was spinner Pawlett who turned the tide though, tempting Marsh (10) into holing out to Jonathan Pawlett in the deep, before crucially clean bowling Thomas for 33 (two fours and a six) en route to figures of 3-27.
He then had Ryan Morton (2) caught behind by Jack Nicholas and at 73-4, the momentum was with Tish.
But the tide turned again thanks to Jamie Phillips and Joe Kidney, who shared a stand of 62 that included a huge six for the skipper over cow corner.
By then he’d already hit three boundaries to reach 40 before being bowled by Sean Williams (1-28) in the penultimate over, but Phillips hammered a four and a six of successive Jonathan Pawlett deliveries to finish 36 not out. He was joined at the death by Steve Lewis (3 not out) as Lawrenny posted a useful 155-5 in 22 overs.
Tish take a turn for the worse but Cockburn inspires another come-back
And it seemed Tish would fall short after slumping to 22-3, with openers Brennan Devonald (4) and Peter Bradshaw (10) going cheaply to Rob Williams (2-30).
Danny Howells (6) was then magnificently caught on the boundary by Thomas off Lewis (1-15), and Tish looked really up against it.
But it was then that Cockburn and Jonathan Pawlett shared a stand of 87, the latter hitting three fours and two maximums in his 41 before nicking behind to keeper Jamie Phillips off Ryan Morton (1-40).
Sixes help Tish finish in style
Jack Nicholas cracked a six off his first ball but was run out after making 15, and when Williams (1) was caught by Kidney off Steve Lewis (1-7) and with the score on 137-6 after 19 overs – the game was in the balance.
But Cockburn stood firm and in the 20th over, he smashed a six off Kurtis Marsh to bring up his half century and then following a single, it was Andrew Pawlett who hammered the ball over the rope twice to make 12 not out in just two balls and secure Tish the win.
*St Ishmaels were sponsored by Jean and Tony Williams*
James jolts Narberth with fiery pace spell
Narberth (116 for 9) lost to Haverfordwest (118 for 5) by 5 wickets
Umpires: Richard Scriven and Jon Willington
Scorers: Gwyneth Johns and Jayne Cole
Adam James made a mess of Narberth’s top order to set up a win for Bowl holders Haverfordwest – but only after The Town came through a tense run chase.
James took 5-22 as the home side slipped to 15-5, and although they admirably recovered a final total of 116-9 wasn’t enough as The Town got home with five wickets to spare.
It was James who clean bowled opener Richie Adams (0) while Jonny White (1-38) had Had Luff caught by Ben Field, also without scoring.
James then went on to remove Lewis Hough (2), Kyle Quartermaine (7) and Jordan Howell (2) as a quick finish looked on the cards.
Narberth battle back
But Narberth dug in, and a stand of 30 between Loui Davies and Ben Quartermaine rebuilt matters before the latter became James’ fifth victim for 10, and Howell reached 31 (three fours and a six) before holing out to Dai Davies off Archie Thomas.
Thomas (2-23) also removed Dan Hughes (3) but No 8 Davy Johns continued the fight, cracking a four and a six in his 29 and sharing a stand of 41 with Ben Hughes, who did the same in his 19 not out.
Johns was eventually stumped by Jack Scriven off Clive Tucker (1-32) while Matthew Johns added 3 not out, and Narberth’s total of 116-9 was at least a competitive one.
Town start off at a rate of knots
The Town’s reply started in rapid fashion though with the score 57-2 after only five overs.
James typically smashed three fours and two sixes in his 28 before being bowled by Ben Quartermaine aiming another big hit, and No 3 Archie Thomas went first ball to the same bowler – courtesy of a good catch by Loui Davies.
Skipper Davies joined opener Danny Potter though and at 71-2, the visitors looked comfortable before the latter was bowled by Matthew Johns after striking six boundaries in his 34, and then Davies (8) was caught by Matthew Johns off Ben Hughes.
Johns keeps homesters in the hunt
It was Johns who then bowled Lee Summons without scoring on his way to remarkable figured of 2-4 in six overs and at 81-5, the game was truly back on.
But Ben Field (four fours in his 28 not out) and Jake Merry (14 not out) kept their heads, as The Town came through the wobble to seal victory with just two overs to spare.
Hardy helps Neyland win ‘Battle of the Titans’
Carew (145 for 9) lost to Neyland (152 for 7) by 7 runs
Umpires: Steve Blowes and Nigel Richards
Scorers: Julie Davies and John Laugharne
Matches between Carew and Neyland, two of the giants of Pembrokeshire Cricket are usually hard-fought and close tussles and this one was no exception as fortunes ebbed and flowed before Neyland moved into the last four by the very close margin of seven runs.
Put in to bat first, Neyland found it hard going against Shaun Whitfield as he grabbed 5 for 38 in his six overs, supported by James Hinchliffe (1 for 29) and Iori Hicks 1 for 38).
Hardy and Hicks catch the eye with their bats
Neyland had steady knocks by Nathan Banner (17), Brad McDermott-Jenkins (17) and Henry Durrant (11) but the impetus came from Ashley Sutton (three sixes and a four in his 31) and especially Ross Hardy, who top scored with 47 (two fours and three sixes).
Tim Hicks continued his good form for Carew as he scored 49 (four fours and a six) alongside Whitfield (22, with two boundaries) and Scott Richards (10) as Nick Davies also straight drove three sixes in his 32.
Tense finale before Hannon’s Boys squeeze through
After a good 21st over Carew needed just 13 to win but Hardy completed a terrific performance with two wickets in the final over and during the course of the innings there were three excellent catches by Scott Jones as Andrew Miller grabbed 3 for 38 alongside Banner (2 for 37) Durrant (1 for 11), Brad McDermott-Jenkins (2 for 35) as Neyland came out on top in a clash that showed all that is good in Pembrokeshire Cricket.
