Tense tie in exciting finale between Burton and Neyland C

 
Venue: Neyland Community Hub:
Umpires: Rob Bellerby & Jonathan Willington
Scorers: Iann Milsom, Ginny Davies and Rebecca Barton
 
In Monday evening’s matches in the second division there were good wins for Pembroke B and Cresselly before there was an exciting finale when Burton and Neyland B both battled their way to a rare tie after Burton batted first to reach three figures and Neyland went so close to victory but were unable to score off their last delivery and had to settle for a share of the spoils!
 

Match One: Pembroke B (121 for 3) beat Pembs Seniors (79 for 6) by 42 runs

 
Pembroke showed just why they are top of the table with a comfortable over the ‘old timers’ of local cricket as they batted first and unbeaten knocks by Ceri Brace (26), Andrew Price (26) and Will Davies (the pick of the performances with two fours and a six in his 29 before he was run out) saw the score speed to 90 before Davies departed – and Will Davidson-Randell (15 off 8 balls), Harry Malone (8 not out) and Jack Davies (9) all chipped in with a few late runs, albeit at a slightly slower pace, as Stuart Carpenter (1 for 12) and Ian Milsom (1 for 17) were the pick of the vets’ bowlers.
 
 A Vets’ target of 122 to win seemed challenging and they were under pressure from the outset as openers Andrew Willams (6, removed by Davidson-Randell) and David Haynes (7, run out, perhaps after a hearty Christmas holiday away from school!).
 
Then the Vets lost the key wicket of Stuart Carpenter (11), soon to jet off to India for the World Over 60s Cricket with Wales but on this occasion well-caught by Harry Malone off Jack Davies, followed by Ian Milsom (from a neat Will Davies’ stumping off Jack Davies to give him a splendid 2 for 7 haul), and Mark Hicks (3), who gave a catch to Andrew Price to earn Davidson Randell fine figures of 2 for 13.
 
It was left to No 4 batsman Rob Nicholas to give a semblance of respectability to the Vets’ scoring with an excellent 41 off only 24 deliveries before he was run out with an over left but there was no doubt that the youthful legs of the Pembroke side were a little too much for their very plucky opposition!
 
 

Match Two: Cresselly (97 for 2) beat Herbrandston (84 for 3) by 14 runs

 
Cresselly’s potent mix of youth and experience paid off as they showed another significant improvement with a deserved win over Herbrandston after experienced openers Tom Rowlands (26) and Stefan Jenkins (27) batted well before retiring – and teenage No 3 Charlie Arthur stroked 22 before he was removed by Atticus Kingston and then Ollie Rowlands (7), both well caught by Charlie Malloy.
 
Griff Jenkins (3 not out) and Tom Arthur (3 not out) rounded off the innings and with 10 from ‘Mr Extras’ Cresselly ended up just short of a three-figure score. Atticus Kingston was the pick of the Herbie bowlers alongside dad Robert, who didn’t take a wicket but only conceded 14 runs from his two overs.
 
Charlie Malloy gave Herbie a good start before he was run out for 27 and the Kingston duo of Atticus (18) and Robert (26) maintained the momentum but Dai Malloy (3) was unable to continue his recent good form and Cayden Maguire (1) fell to Tom Rowlands, the undoubted Cresselly player of the match as he finished with 2 for 10, well supported by son Ollie, with 2 for 20, and Tom Arthur (an economical 0 for 13).
 
 

Match Three: Burton (118 for 4) tied with Neyland C (118 for 4)

 
Burton and Neyland C fought out a terrific match which ended in a tie as the result was in doubt until the final over where amazing things happened so late in both innings and Neyland might consider themselves unlucky in both because when they bowled first they looked in control until Burton belted an astonishing 30 runs off the tenth Neyland over – and when the roles were reversed Neyland scored 18 runs to leave a single for victory – but lost a wicket and so had to settle for a tie!
 
Morgan Scale continued his great form as he opened for Burton and ended on 47 not out, including two sixes in the last over – and co-opener Will Ridge was with him on 39 not out having also hit a six just before.
 
His brother Dan chipped in with 10 but and Dan John added 15 but  Matthew Davies (0), and Dan Griffiths (0) were both run out in the late chase for runs before Messrs  Scale and Ridge went berserk at the en before they ended on 118 for 4.
 
Ashley Watkins  (27) and Keiran Arran (25) got Neyland off to a flier before both retired and John Tennick contributes 21 before getting run out – and Korey Arran  (6) and Jason Milne (14 not out) added to the tally – and the final over saw Keiran Arran (41) blitz some big runs, including two sixes before getting out to Morgan Scale – and in the final analysis a share of the spoils was perhaps fair after fortunes had swayed back and forth so much!