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Aberystwyth Festival 2009:
Pembrokeshire under 10’s take Aber by storm
The 30th annual under 10 Welsh Cricket Festival got under way recently with Pembrokeshire winning all three games in their group in style.
Pembrokeshire (164 for 3) beat Eryri (107 for 7)
Their first game, played at the beautiful Vicarage Fields in Aberystwyth, was a first meeting of the season for Pembrokeshire against North Wales region Eryri and Pembrokeshire (164 for 3) beat Eryri (107 for 7) in 30 overs per side.
Griffiths in control for Pembs
Toby Poole captained Pembrokeshire for the day and the opposition put Pembs into bat on what looked a very good wicket. Liam Cullen of Kilgetty opened the batting with Kieran Griffiths of Haverfordwest and put on a solid first wicket partnership, seeing off the pace of Eryri before Cullen was bowled for a superb 24, which included two fours. Toby Poole came to the crease and continued his recent form until he was hit by a beamer on his arm, and next ball was bowled for 3 to the left arm spin of James Sissons. Griffiths continued to bat well and Tom Murphy partnered Griffiths with an excellent 18 until he was caught. Sean Coaker of Narberth also played well for his 8 not out whilst Griffiths showed his undoubted promise as he batted through the innings to a superb career-best of 74 not out, taking the innings to a powerful 164 for 3.
Economical bowling
Opening the bowling for the County was Tom Murphy and Sean Coaker, who took a wicket with a good caught and bowled. Backing the opening bowlers up were Kieran O’Connor (Haverfordwest) and Jac Waters of Kilgetty. O’Connor took one wicket as he bowled with accuracy, Waters bowled an excellent line in his spell for few runs before Pembrokeshire turned to the spin of Toby Poole, who bowled his leg spin well to take two wickets, including Welsh international Mark Williams with a magnificent catch by Tom Hughes of Neyland, at backward square and diving forward. Callum Woods bowled his off spin economically and Griffiths, James Davies of Burton, Callum James of Hook, and Tom Hughes of Neyland also bowled very well.
The other wicket taker on the day was Ben Palin of Kilgetty who bowled his excellent away swing to be rewarded with two wickets. Liam Cullen also kept wicket very well and had a run out and a catch. After the 30 overs Pembs restricted Eryri to 107 for 7, giving them an excellent win and start to the festival.
Mid Glamorgan (143 for 6) lost to Pembrokeshire (144 for 4)
Day two of the festival brought on Mid Glamorgan for a match played at Aberystwyth Cricket Club on a beautiful sunny day giving Pembrokeshire their second win in a row with four balls to spare.
Kieran Griffiths captained Pembrokeshire and the team was put in to field by Mid Glam. Murphy and Griffiths opened the bowling on a very flat pitch and Mid Glamorgan got off to a very quick start from the first six overs. Ben Palin and Jac Waters slowed the run rate down, with Palin taking two wickets, with a good catch by Poole in his spell. Waters bowled well, going for only five runs in his spell and the next bowling change brought on Iori Hicks of Carew and Sean Coaker of Narberth. Hicks bowled well and was rewarded with two wickets from two excellent catches by Tom Hughes and Kieran Griffiths. Tom Hughes bowled well with one wicket whilst Toby Poole, Callum James, James Davies and Woods bowled well in so that Mid Glamorgan finished up on 143 for 6
Griffiths guides Pembs home
Kieran O’Connor and Sean Coaker opened the batting for Pembrokeshire and got the team off to a good start, putting on 22 for the first wicket before O’Connor was bowled for six runs. Poole and Coaker continued to increase the run rate until Poole was caught for 7. In came the in-form Griffiths, who continued his runs and took the Mid Glamorgan bowling on with a class of his own. Coaker went for a good 16 runs, Callum Woods of Burton partnered Griffiths for the next 10 overs, until he was run out on a direct hit for 5.
Pembrokeshire at this point needed 70 off the last 12 overs so the stage was set for the confident Cullen who got the run rate moving with some excellent shots all round the ground. Griffiths and Cullen took the chase to Mid Glamorgan and rattled the bowlers with some great stroke play. The pair held their nerve and lead Pembrokeshire to a fantastic win with only four balls left. Griffiths finished off on 58 not out and Cullen 29 not out to give Pembrokeshire two wins in a row
Cardiff and the Vale (143 all out) lost to Pembrokeshire (146 for 7)
In their final game of the festival Pembrokeshire took on Cardiff and the Vale and they did not disappoint the crowd with a third win in a nail biting finish, bowling out Cardiff and the Vale with only two balls to spare and three runs short of Pembrokeshire’s total.
Tom Murphy captained the county and elected to bat on a sunny day as a change in the order brought Kilgetty’s promising all rounder Jac Waters to the crease with James Davies of Burton. The pair started well before Davies was bowled for 4 and Toby Poole joined his team mate and continued his positive form. Waters continued to score well before he was given out l b w for an excellent 18 runs including two fours. Callum James of Hook played well for his 7, Tom Hughes built a good partnership with Poole until a mix up between the two came to a run out for Hughes. Palin came to the crease and he and Poole kept the scoreboard ticking before Palin was run out with a direct hit. With only two balls to spare Poole was run out going for a quick run for an excellent 40 runs as Pembs finished up on a healthy 146 for 7.
Great fight back led by Murphy
Sean Coaker and Kieran Griffiths opened the bowling but with no early wickets before Ben Palin took the ball and claimed two quick wickets in his first spell which got Pembs back into the game. The pace of Murphy and O’Connor pinned the Cardiff run rate down, Jac Waters bowled his consistent line and length, Poole bowled his leg spin but Cardiff and the Vale were building a good middle order partnership until Murphy and Palin came back into the attack and the pace of Murphy skittled the middle order, taking three wickets in his last spell which turned the game for Pembs. Palin then took another wicket leaving Sean Coaker to bowl the last over with the last pair at the crease and Cardiff needing four runs to win. On his fourth delivery the right handed batsmen went for a drive and edged the ball with wicket keeper Liam Cullen taking a brilliant catch to win a fantastic game of cricket, which was all enjoyed by the large crowd.
Superb end to the season
Pembrokeshire under 10s have now finished their season and have beaten every team they have faced in all Welsh regional games. They have played with commitment and passion and done Pembrokeshire Cricket proud. Well done lads from PembrokeshireSport.co.uk
Aberystwyth Festival squad:
Sean Coaker (Narberth); Kieran Griffiths (Haverfordwest); Toby Poole (Kilgetty); Tom Murphy (Kilgetty); Kieran O’Connor (Haverfordwest) ; Liam Cullen (Kilgetty); Callum Woods (Burton); James Davies (Burton); Jac Waters (Kilgetty); Ben Palin (Kilgetty ); Iori Hicks (Carew); Callum James (Hook); Tom Hughes (Neyland).
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