2023 Ormond Youth Cup Final:
Whitland (72 for 9 & 104 for 6) lost to Carew/Lawrenny (112 for 7 & 71 for 2) by 8 wickets
Umpires: Steve Williams & Neill Crawshaw
Scorers: Alys Jones & Julie Davies
Man of the Match: Ethan Hall
Adjudicator: Steve Blowes
Disappointing tally after steady Whitland start
Whitland hopes of a good start looked promising as openers Rhys Jones and Dan Howells put on 31 runs but took nine overs to do it as Oscar Lewis bowled two maidens in his four overs whilst conceding only five runs whilst big brother Finley took 0-21 at the other end.
But then Carew/Lawrenny change bowlers Rhys Eynon and Ethan Hall took centre stage as Eynon claimed 4 for 16 that included Jones (21) after previously shifting Howells (10) and Ethan Ryan(8), both stumped by Will Allen, followed by Dafydd James (5).
Mark White maintained the pressure by bowling Cian Rees for a duck and then Ethan hall created carnage with 4 for 7 in only two overs as Cai Lewis departed for 10, caught by Finley Lewis, and Freddie Davies (3) became Will Allen's third stumping – followed by Luca Jones and Gethin Davies.
There were 12 extras as Whitland could only muster 75 for 9 as Shane Davies and Joel Evans remained not out after their 20 overs.
Combined team also struggle but bounce back to build a lead
Carew/Lawrenny also struggled when they batted as their front four of skipper Finley Lewis, Rhys Eynon. Ethan and Corey Hall came and went quickly for only 15 runs between them against Cian Rees (1 for 12) and Rhys Jones (3 for 27).
Will Allen (8) was also removed by Dan Howells and at that stage they looked very shaky on 38 for 5 in nine overs.
But then Logan Hall and Oscar Lewis combined in a productive partnership of 34 before Lewis (18, including two fours) was caught by Ryan off Cian Rees – but Hall stroked three boundaries in his excellent top score of 36 before falling to Freddie Davies.
Connor Davies chipped in with two fours in his late 9 not out and a large total of 26 extras, including 18 wides, helped Carew to 112 for 7 and a lead of 37 at tea.
Whitland battle their way to three figures but unable to set a sizeable target
Whitland knew they needed to build a sizeable score to put pressure on the combined team in their final innings but although there were double figures for openers Rhys Jones and Dan Howells they both departed to Mark White before Ethan Ryan and Dafydd James went very quickly afterwards to give White fine figures of 3 for 27, supported by Rhys Eynon, who finished with 2 for 13 as he also claimed the key wicket of Cai Lewis, who had smashed three big sixes in his top score of 29.
Freddie Davies and Cian Rees added further runs before Rees was run out in the inevitable late chase for runs and Davies ended on 11 not out as 24 extras, most of them from wides, helped Whitland to 104 for 6 to set Carew/Lawrenny a final target of 67 for victory.
Steady stroll for combined team
It was never likely to be a huge challenge for victory for such an experienced team, a number of whom already have first division experience, and although they lost Rhys Eynon (2), caught by Dafydd James off Rhys Jones with the score on 19, skipper Lewis was joined by Ethan Hall in advancing the score to 58 as he scored 12 with victory in sight.
Finley Lewis blasted six fours and two huge sixes, one off a no-ball and the other into the gardens to see his team home in 14.2 overs to give his team victory in a game played in the best of spirits and in front of an appreciative audience from all three camps.
And finally . . .
Trefor Evans, the president of Pembroke County Cricket Club, said as much in the post-match presentations as he also thanked Carew for providing their usual excellent pitch and their ladies for a sumptuous team enjoyed by both teams and officials, plus Sandra Pidgeon for continuing her sponsorship of the competition and Richard Merriman for doing a good job all afternoon as announcer.
He rightly praised umpires Steve Williams and Neill Crawshaw alongside scorers Julie Davies and Alys Jones, all of whom received their mementoes from Thomas Scourfield before both teams received their medals, and Finley Lewis received the Ormond Youth Cup, also from Mr Scourfield.
Man of the Match adjudicator Steve Blowes, the hon secretary of the Pembroke County Cricket Club, chose Ethan Hall for his superb four-wicket haul that did so much damage in the first innings.
SCORECARDS:
First Innings:
Whitland Batting:
Rhys Jones b Rhys Eynon 21
Dan Howells st Wii Allen b Rhys Eynon 10
Ethan Ryan st Will Allen b Rhys Eynon 8
Dafydd James b Rhys Eynon 5
Cian Rees b Mark White 0
Cai Lewis ct Finley Lewis b Ethan Hall 10
Freddy Davies st Will Allen b Ethan Hall 3
Luca Jones b Ethan Hall 0
Gethin Davies b Ethan Hall 1
Shane Davies not out 1
Joel Evans not out 4
Extras 12
Total (9 wickets) 75
Carew/Lawrenny Bowling:
Oscar Lewis 4-2-5-0; Finley Lewis 4-0-21-0; Logan Hall 2-0-10-0; Mark White 4-0-11-1; Rhys Eynon 4-0-16-4; Ethan Hall 2-0-7-4.
Carew/Lawrenny Batting:
Finley Lewis ct Ethan Ryan b Cian Rees 6
Rhys Eynon lbw b Rhys Jones 8
Ethan Hall ct & b Rhys Jones 1
Corey Hall lbw b Rhys Jones 0
Will Allen ct Rhys Jones b Dan Howells 8
Logan Hall ct Rhys Jones b Freddie Davies 36
Oscar Lewis ct Ethan Ryan b Cian Rees 18
Connor Davies not out 9
Extras 26
Total (7 wickets) 112
Whitland Bowling:
Cian Rees 4-0-12-2’ Rhys Jones 4-0-19-3; Ethan Ryan 4-0-12-0; Dan Howells 4-0-27-1; Freddie Davies 3-0-15-1; Joel Evans 1-0-10-0.
Second Innings:
Whitland Batting:
Rhys Jones b Mark White 10
Dan Howells b Mark White 11
Ethan Ryan ct Mark White b Rhys Eynon 0
Daf James ct Fletcher Broadhurst b Mark White 2
Cai Lewis b Rhys Eynon 29
Freddie Lewis not out 11
Cian Rees run out 16
Jack Evans not out 1
Extras 24
Total (6 wickets) 104
Carew/Lawrenny Bowling
Oscar Lewis 4-0-17-0; Finley Lewis 4-1-12-0; Corey Hall 2-0-8-0; Mark White 4-0-27-3; Rhys Eynon 4-1-13-2; Ethan Hall 2-0-14-0.
Carew/Lawrenny Batting:
Finley Lewis not out 46
Rhys Eynon ct Daf James b Rhys Jones 2
Ethan Hall ct Freddie Davies b Ethan Ryan 12
Logan Hall not out 1
Extras 10
Total (2 wickets) 71
Whitland Bowling:
Cian Rees 4-1-4-0; Rhys Jones 4-1-19-1; Ethan Ryan 3-0-15-1; Freddie Davies 2.2-o-26-0; Daf James1-0-2-0.