Haverfordwest 4XI (99-5) emerged victorious by 5 wickets in the Division 5 encounter at the Athletic Ground when they defeated Neyland 3XI (98ao) on Saturday (Jun 14), former Neyland batsman Ian Lewis scored 43 (1x6;5x4) for the Town to back up debutant teenager George Twigg, whose off pin returned him 4-16 from his 5 overs.
Phil Keen elected to bat on winning the toss, in a game sponsored by County Chairman Martin Jones and his wife Yvonne, opening pair Mason Kerrison (18) added 22 before Korey Arran was bowled by veteran opening bowler Gareth Fair (1-31), Lewis Hallet (11;1x4) helping take the scoreboard to 47 before he was bowled by veteran Richard Davies (2-12), Kerrison superbly run out from backward point by a direct hit from Paul Jenkins to peg back his stumps when he was short of his ground. Jenkins then caught Steve Roberts (6) to give Davies his second wicket on 57-4, Keen (19;1x4) steading the ship alongside teenager Josh James (19;3x4) before he was caught and bowled by Twigg having added 26 for the fifth wicket.
Thirteen year old leg spinner Harry Ateyo, who conceded 21 runs in a wicketless spell which on another day would have had him claiming wickets as he troubled all the batsman was replaced by Captain Danny Dewstowe (2-2) who bowled his counterpart in his first over, before Dewstowe caught and bowled another teenager Ethan Homes (1) in his next over, to leave the Nomads 85-5.
Twigg ending the innings with the final ball of the thirty second over, firstly taking a return catch to remove Iestyn Lewis (1) and bowling the venerable Jason Milne for a duck a and the final wicket, Lewis Tucker (2), leaving veteran Jon Coles 1no in a final score of 98ao, with 16 extras.
The Town reply reached 11 before Davies (3) was dismissed by James (1-22), Twigg (7) joining Lewis to add 42 for the second wicket before he was caught and bowled by teenager Ethan Holmes. Wil Davies (17; 2x4) then helped Lewis take their side to within 11 runs of victory before Lewis was caught by Lewis Tucker as the first of Coles 2-11, Ateyo unbeaten on one after Davies failed to make his ground when attempting a run in the twenty first over, Dewstowe becoming Coles second wicket when he was caught without troubling scribe Kerry Edwards scorebook, Ateyo scoring the winning run off Tuckers only over to win the game, veteran Jason Phillips not having to face a ball when victory secured.
Haverfordwest remain outside the promotion places ahead of hosting Pembroke Dock II who sit a place above them, at the Racecourse next week, bottom of the table Neyland entertaining promotion chasing Llechryd II as the league season reaches its halfway stage.
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