County go down to disappointing defeat

County Match:

Pembroke County Cricket Club (161 for 9) lost to the South Wales Cricket Association (162 for 3) by 7 wickets

Umpires:  Dave Brandon & Dave Bonner

Scorers: John Laugharne & Craig Thomas

Venue: Imble Lane, Pembroke Dock

Pembrokeshire went down to a disappointing defeat against a strong South Wales Cricket Association team at Imble Lane, Pembroke Dock, as they lost wickets from their middle order at key times – and solid batting by all the opposition batting saw them reach their target with seven wickets and 5.1 overs in hand.

Yet a larger Pembrokeshire final tally seemed a distinct possibility as they moved steadily to 52 for 2 despite losing Toby Hayman to a run out early on but then Patrick Bellerby (19), Harry Thomas (11) and Tom Davies (15) looked settled but fell at the wrong time against the canny spin of Scott Thomas (2 for 23) and Harry Bolland (3 for 31).

Ross Hardy (21) and Brad-McDermott Jenkins (12) also completed cameos but at 90 for 8 it looked likely that an early finish was going to be the order of the day as former Haverfordwest player Kieran O’Connor made his SWCA debut and  bowled four tight overs as well as pouching two good catches.

Tail-end fight back

But then skipper Sean Hannon joined experienced campaigner Matthew Davies and launched an excellent counter-attack which saw them add 50 runs in good time with some well-judged running between the wickets allied to hitting the bad ball to the boundary.

Davies ended undefeated on 31, with five boundaries, and Hannon eventually departed from the final ball of the county’s allotted 40 overs, caught at long on going for another six off the bowling of recalled pace man Julian Griffiths for 30, including two fours and a big six.

It at least made sure that the SWCA would have to bat well against Pembrokeshire’s varied bowling attack but was far less than skipper Sean Hannon would have hoped for.

Writing soon on the wall for county team

The writing was on the wall for the county as openers Yacoob Ali and Scott Lloyd put on a steady 35 before Ali was well caught by Toby Hayman off Henry Durrant for 20 (three fours).

Lloyd was joined by Scott Thomas and they put on 45 runs before Thomas, who had belted four fours and a six in his 26, gave a return catch to Brad McDermott-Jenkins – and the same bowler shifted Lloyd for 34 (six boundaries).

At 91 for 3 there was a chink of light for Hannon’s men but it was soon distinguished as Ben Edkins and Luke O’Connor added 71 runs without any further losses, with Edkins looking in good form and contributing 48 not out (seven fours and two sixes) alongside O’Connor’s 28 not out (five boundaries).

Scorecard:

Pembrokeshire Batting:

Toby Hayman run out 7

Patrick Bellerby b Julian Griffiths 19

Harry Thomas b Scott Thomas 11

Tom Davies ct Julian Griffiths b Scott Thomas 15

Geraint Jones ct Kieran O’Connor b Harry Bolland 2

Ross Hardy ct Gregg Fisher b Harry Bolland 21

Brad McDermott-Jenkins ct Kieran O’Connor b Harry Bolland 12

Matthew Davies not out 31

Henry Durrant lbw b Luke O’Connor 1

Sean Hannon ct Luke O’Connor b Julian Griffiths 30

Extras 12

Total (9 wickets) 161

SWCA Bowling:

Dafydd Davies 8-1-42-0; Julian Griffiths 8-1-27-2; Scott Thomas 8-2-23-2; Harry Bolland 8-1-31-3; Kieran O’Connor 4-0-16-0; Luke O’Connor 4-0-18-1

SWCA Batting:

Yacoob Ali ct Toby Hayman b Henry Durrant 20

Scott Lloyd b Brad McDermott-Jenkins 34

Scott Thomas ct & b Brad McDermott-Jenkins 26

Ben Edkins not out 48

Luke O’Connor not out 28

Extras 6

Total (3 wickets) 162

Pembrokeshire Bowling:

Tom Davies 5-1-21-0; Henry Durrant 6-0-16-1; James Davies 4-0-18-0; Matthew Davies 6-1-21-0; Brad McDermott-Jenkins 6-0-23-2; Ross Hardy 4-0-27-0; Harry Thomas 2.5-0-19-0; Geraint Jones 1-0-16-0