The results on matchday 7 of Saturday (Jun 7) sees the Division 2 table led by Narberth (161-9) who have an unblemished win record after they overcame Hook (160-9) at the Lewis Lloyd ground, veteran spinner Mathew Johns striking the winning boundary off the first ball of the final over bowled by Wayne Griffiths, the seamer takin 2-27 in the innings.
Hook skipper Aled Phelps had been asked to make first use of the wicket, losing opening batsman Liam Miller (14;3x4) with the score on 22 as Narberth captain Lewis Hough caught the talented teenager from the bowling of Lewis Jones who conceded 12 runs in his overs with the new ball.
Twenty runs Skipper Phelps departed for 8 (1x4) as Johns snaffled the catch from Shay Norcross, Harry Phillps hands accounting for Norcross (2-37) second wicket on 65-3, George James the batsman returning to the pavilion for 13(2x4).
Opening batsman Rhys Phelps, the youngest of four representatives of his family in the visitors XI, controlled the innings from his opening berth as he stroked six boundaries in his 62, before he was run out by wicketkeeper Kyle Williams on 139-7. Seamers, Hough (2-30) and Ben Hughes (1-21) controlled the middle overs, no Hook batsman reaching double figures until Callum James (10;1x4) joined the opening batsman at 117-6. Brennan Martin had a run a ball 13 before he became the ninth wicket on 158-9 off the first ball of the final over from Johns who took 2-24 with his off spin.
The hosts had their ‘Barmy Army’ supporters cheering as Norcross (60; 3x6;4x4) and Louie Davies (47;7x4) rattled up 60 for the first wicket before Norcross lost his bails to skipper Phelps (1-25) in the thirteenth over. Jamie McCormack (16;3x4) helped take the score to 104-2 before Griffiths trapped him LBW with fifteen overs remaining, Davies caught by Jacob lay on the same score an over later as Owen Phelps took the first of his 2-37 return. Fortunes drifted towards the visitors with the return of opening bowler Brennan Martin who took 4-42, bowling in tandem with Griffiths only Tim Jack reaching double figures (12; 1x6;1x4) alongside Jones (13; 2x4) before Johns struck the match winning score in the final over to see his side hold a 25 point lead in pursuit of the Dan Jones Cup and an immediate return to the top echelon.
Closest rivals are St Ishmaels who recovered from an iffy start at home to Pembroke, where they lost Peter Bradshaw for a duck via the hands of skipper Jack Harries off seamer Callum Davies (2-25) and inform Phil Llewellyn (3) with the score on 6-2, when he was bowled by Andy Tait (2-29). Veteran Karl Read (10; 1x4) was caught by Ceri Brace to give Tait his second wicket on 21-3, the hosts then seeing skipper Jonny Pawlett find an ally in Brennan Devonald to take the score to 136-4, the fourth wicket partnership 115 after the dominant Devonald was caught by Richard Pulman to give Harries his opening wicket, Tom Williams caught behind by Hay and his father, Steve bowled as the visitors controlled the overs after the mid innings drinks interval.
Andrew Williams (10;1x4) showed his experience as he allowed Pawlett to take the strike, before he was trapped LBW to the returning new ball bowler Davies. His skipper’s innings of 100 ended with the penultimate ball of the innings when Wil Davies caught him off Pulman (1-24).
The visitors from Treleet challenged the home score with aplomb as opening batsman Ceri Brace (60;10x4) and Wil Daves (61;10x4) added 126 for the second wicket after Devonald (3-28) bowled county player Harris (4;1x4) in the opening over with the Dan Jones of Dale Firewood sponsored match ball.
It took the introduction of left arm spinner Andy Pawlett (1-48) to break the partnership when he Brace caught by Bradshaw in the twenty eight over, Gareth Long hitting a six and two boundaries in a brisk 22 to keep the scoreboard rolling, Davies caught and bowled by the returning Devonald on 163-3 before his skipper clung onto a catch to see the end of Long on 172-4.
Steve Williams (1-29) run out Archie Hiller Wood as he tried to run a quick single off his bowling, the direct hit at the non strikers end on 177-5 then saw him trap Tait LBW an over later on 186-6, wicketkeeper Hay bowled by his son Thomas (2-32) on 199-7, the new ball bowler having success again on 204-9 when he Devonald caught Pulman (10; 1x4), the Tish skipper Pawlett bowling George Morgan between both of young William’s wickets.
Callum Davies struck a six in his unbeaten 11 before the innings closed on 217-9, Pembroke now in third place six points adrift of their opponents.
Johnston continued their form which has seen the record three straight league victories, despite being bowled out for 92 by Carew II at Glebelands. Vice-captain Keegan Codd with an unbeaten 28 (5x4) and his captain Liam Boswell (16; 3x4), alongside Nick Davies (10;1x4) and Liam James (13;2x4) the only Tigers in double figures, the top order failing as Joel Read (4-15) and George Walters (1-17) bowled well. Veteran spinner Barry Evans came on first change to take 3-25 and his captain Jacob Knox 2-24 saw the innings end on 92ao in the thirty fourth over.
Codd took the new ball sponsored by DSR Batteries alongside James as they immediately put the Rooks batsman under pressure, Codd with 3-24 and James 3-18. There was no respite as Steve Mills came on first change to also take 3-18, the only resistance put up by teenager Corey Hall (18; 2x4) and veteran Hayden Shapcott, who had three boundaries in his sides top score of 25, before they were dismissed for 79 shortly after the interval for drinks and the Tigers triumphed by 13 runs in the low scoring encounter.
Cressley II scored the division's highest score with 270-6 at home to Llanrhian (215-4) to win by 55 runs on another immaculate wicket produced by Richard Arthur. Having been invited to bat skipper Stefan Jenkins (35no;4x4) was one of seven batsman to reach double figures, Iori Thomas scoring 30(5x4) of the opening partnerships 53 with Neal Williams (62; 7x4) who anchored the innings, as the youthful Lewis Mason (13;1x6;1x4), Griff Jenkins (42; 3x6;3x4) were given licence to thrill.
The Doves also had 17 (1x6;1x40 from veteran Mathew Lewis, Gwynant Watson the pick of the ‘Cows’ bowlers with 4-63.
Opening batsman Jack Jones came to the crease on 41-1 when Griff Jenkins had Steve Bachelor (14;3x4) caught by wicket keeper Mike Jones, losing Rhys Watkins (25; 2x6;2x4) to Jenkins (2-28) on 57-2 via the safe hands of Lewis. Jones dominated the scorebook as he recorded an unbeaten 115, with three maximums and seven boundaries from 99 balls, Fraser Watson (21;3x4) falling on 120-3 when he was caught by Thomas off Mason (1-37) having helped add 63 for the third wicket and Liam Williams alongside Jones added 75 for the fourth wicket before he was run out for 25 (1x4), teenager Tyler James taking a caught and bowled a run later for his side’s final wicket.
Twenty nine points separate second place St Ishmaels and eighth place Llechryd in the division, Llanrhian rock bottom after Burton II (124ao) recorded their first victory of the season with an 18 run win over visitors Llechryd (106ao) at Oatfield Park. Jac Morgan (44) top scored for the home side as former Neyland duo Graeme Keen (3-21) and Jamie Smith (3-32) were the pick of the visitor’s attack, Keen then top scoring with 33 with the north county sides reply, veteran Jon Scale swinging into action with 3-13 alongside Dan Griffiths (21-16) and Harry Owen (12-15), the later also scoring 37 earlier in the day for his side.
Photo: Cresselly Cricket Club (source)
