PHOTO:
Danny Caine hits a four for Saundersfoot

Seasiders shock current Bowl holders

Cresselly (115 for 5) lost to Saundersfoot (138 for 7) by 23 runs

Umpires: Richard Merriman & Richard Scriven

Scorers: Teagan Cartwright & Adge John
 

A totally committed performance by the entire Saundersfoot team saw them deservedly dump current Harrison-Allen Bowl holders Cresselly out of this year’s competition and join Haverfordwest, Lawrenny and Whitland in the last four.

Few pundits would have tipped The Seasiders to win and that view looked accurate as they lurched to 20 for 4 before splendid half centuries from Danny Caine and Tom Mansbridge saw them reach 138 for 7 from their allotted 22 overs.

Even then it was Cresselly who looked favourites but their strangely reticent batting performance saw them still needing 45 in their final four overs despite only losing two wickets at that point – but excellent late bowling from Neil Powling and Danny Caine saw them only adding another 21 runs and with little evidence of a will to go flat out through some big hitting.

Seasiders start well but soon collapse

After being asked to bat first, Saundersfoot’s Nick Cope started off with a six off only the second ball of the innings and another three balls later against home skipper Ryan Lewis – but hopes of a speedy start soon foundered against Sam Harts (2 for 21) and Tom Arthur (who finished with 2 for 36).

It certainly didn’t look good for Saundersfoot but then Danny Caine and Tom Mansbridge joined forces in a cracking stand of 86 where Caine oozed power and Mansbridge played some classy shots along the ground to the boundary.

Caine was first to go for 51 (three fours and a six) as one of three terrific boundary catches by Ryan Lewis and Mansbridge finally succumbed for 54 (eight boundaries) as Tom Murphy (2 for 36) and Mike Shaw (1 for 15) were the other Cresselly wicket-takers.

Cresselly start well but fail to break the Saundersfoot stranglehold

In reply, Cresselly made a solid start with an opening stand of 59 before Phil Williams departed for 22, well caught by John Mansbridge in Sam Franklin’s final over, with the Seasiders’ skipper bowling his heart out to concede only 12 runs from his six overs, which included a maiden.

Iwan Izzard also chipped in with 22 before he was bowled by Neil Powling as part of a 3 for 37 stint by the Seasiders’ veteran pace man – and with Nick Cope only giving away 17 runs from his six overs the pressure was clearly beginning to show for Cresselly.

Dan Sutton and skipper Lewis tried hard to hit their way out of trouble but a measure of the excellent Seasiders’ fielding was the fact that they only gave away five boundaries and didn’t conceded a single extra in 22 overs of accurate bowling!

Lewis departed for eight runs after already being dropped and when Sutton (52, including three fours and a six) was caught at long off by Cope from a ball that looked destined to fly over the boundary there were no further alarms for The Seasiders as they eventually celebrated a victory that was as deserved as it was a bit of a shock!

Lawrenny good value for local derby success

Carew (94 for 9) lost to Lawrenny (141 for 9) by 47 runs

Umpires:  Trefor Evans & Dave Brandon

Scorers: Julie Davies & Malcolm Thomas

 

Lawrenny moved into the last four of this year’s Harrison-Allen Bowl Final as a result of this win over near neighbours Carew where it looked as if their final tally of 145 for 9 might not be enough.

But excellent bowling stats from Rob Williams and Brad McDermott-Jenkins, who shared eight wickets, allied to some tight fielding by the entire team, including three catches from wicket-keeper James Phillips, meant that The Rooks’ expected strong response never really materialised. James Skeels also took a terrific catch above his head and Tom Cole pouched a beauty near the boundary rope.

Put in to bat first, it was McDermott-Jenkins who also topped the Lawrenny batting with a hard-hitting 32, assisted by cameos from Phillips (11) and skipper Joe Kidney (26), as it looked as if they might have to settle for a final tally in the region of 120 runs before Ryan Morton blitzed three sixes from the final over by Ceri Brace which saw him move to 27 not out which helped them to a much more challenging score.

For Carew, Rhys Davies again spear-headed their attack with a 5 for 26 haul, assisted by cousin Tom (3 for 24) and Simon Wood (1 for 30).

Local pundits felt that it still wasn’t enough to take Lawrenny home in view of Carew’s powerful batting line-up but with Williams ((4 for 15) and McDermott-Jenkins (4 for 28) bowling their hearts out only Tim Hicks (29) ever looked settled as Shaun Whitfield (11) and Nick Davies (12 not out) were the only other batsmen in double figures.

Jamie Lewis also claimed a wicket for the visitors and Carew had to settle for 94 for 9, leaving Lawrenny as the first club in the semi-final drew and looking for a second successive final.

PHOTO:
Brad McDermott-Jenkins starred for Lawrenny with runs and wickets

Town go through as James jolts Herbie

Herbrandston (72 all out) lost to Haverfordwest (73 for 4) by 6 wickets

Umpires: Arthur Brady & Allan Hansen

Scorers: Clarissa Lewis & Jayne Cole

 

Adam James took 4-7 in six overs as 2016 winners Haverfordwest booked their place in the Harrison-Allen Bowl semi-finals at Herbie.

The Division Three side were put into bat by Danny Potter and didn't start badly as they found themselves 18-0 - only to then collapse to 39-8. And despite 20 not out from No 10 Rob Kingston, a total of 72 was never going to be enough.

It was James who got the ball rolling by clean bowling Jonty Bennett (4) and Ryan Davies (0), as opener Leigh Marchant was the only top order batsman to make any impression with 17 (four fours), before he was skittled by Archie Thomas.

The latter went on to take 3-23, and Clive Tucker also had a wicket when Jay Power (0) was smartly stumped by Jack Scriven, but Robert Hood (11) and Kingston then partly rescued matters with a stand of 28.

Kingston hit three fours to help take the score to 72-9 but then in the 20th over, the Tucker/Scriven combination struck again as Paul Nicholas (4) was stumped to give the spinner 2-17.

Mike Jones and Ben Field then took the Town's reply to 36-0 when Hood bowled Jones (9), who then had Lee Summons (3) and Field both trapped LBW, the latter having made 27 (three fours) to earn Hood final figures of 3-15 in his six overs.

Potter also fell, bowled by Jack Wilson (1-27) for 3, but Dai Davies (19 not out) and Jake Merry (1 not out) ensured there were no further dramas by sealing the win in 18.4 overs.

PHOTO:
Adam James took four wickets for The Town

Whitland win well as Narberth crumble

Whitland (137 for 7) beat Narberth (84 for 8) by 53 runs

Umpires: Simon Richards & Dave Bonner

Scorers: Ann-Marie Jenkins & Gwyneth Johns 

Whitland proved to be good value for victory at home to Narberth as they batted sensibly to reach a decent, but not huge, tally which Narberth were unable to chase down against persistent home bowling.

The Borderers managed 132 for 7 but their total was boosted by five penalty runs awarded by the match officials after a Narberth batsmen made an unacceptable comment, arguably the first time such an incident has occurred in a Harrison-Allen Bowl match.

Leading the way with the bat for Whitland was Nathan Evans, with a brisk undefeated 41 that provided vital impulsion towards the end of their 22 overs after Wayne Howells (20), Jack Bevan (16) and 15 apiece from Matthew Davies and Jonathan Thomas had set the platform.

For Narberth, the key bowlers were Matthew Johns (2 for 29), Ben Hughes (2 for 30), Loui Davies (1 for 35) and Ben Quartermaine (1 for 36).

When they went in to bat Narberth lost wickets regular intervals against Wayne Howells, who certainly vied for the man of the match tag as he took a miserly 2 for 4 haul against his former team-mates alongside skipper Matthew Davies (3 for 22) and spinner Greg Sleep (2 for 18).

Ben Hughes top-scored for Narberth with a late 25 not out but in the final analysis it was Whitland who were good value for victory and seeking their third final in the completion.

PHOTO: Wayne Howells scored runs and took wickets for Whitland