County Cricket:

 

Pembroke County Cricket Club (352 for 3) beat Wales Over 50s (119 all out) by 233 runs

 

Venue: St Ishmaels Cricket Club

Umpires:  Arthur Brady and Simon Richards

Scorers: John Laugharne and Janice Webb

The Pembroke County team was due to play Swansea/Swansea University team in this friendly at St Ishmaels but since the visitors were unable to fulfil the fixture the county took on the Welsh Over 50s team which was perhaps inevitably minus a few key players.

Thus it was that a powerful county team of players who had shown terrific early season form was far too strong for the Over 50s, although it did provide the chance for local players Ian Milsom (Neyland), Filgi Varghese (Haverfordwest), Rodney Murphy (Neyland) and Nick North (Llechryd) to join regular incumbent Paul Webb (Cresselly) in representing their country.

When Pembrokeshire batted first on an excellent track they were quickly into their stride as Nick Koomen and Simon Holliday put on 136 for the first wicket in only the 16th over before Koomen was bowled by North for 63, including 11 fours and a six made from just 49 deliveries.

Dan Sutton launched five more boundaries in a quick-fire 26 before he went for one big hit too many and was bowled by Murphy but Holliday completed his fourth successive century as he followed three league 'tons' with ten fours and four sixes in his score of exactly 100 from only 69 balls before he retired to give batting practice to Peter Bradshaw (31) and Toby Hayman.

This partnership produced a healthy haul of 99 runs before Bradshaw fell to Milsom but Hayman produced a splendid array of shots as he sped to 103 in only 54 balls before he also retired, having stroked seven fours and eight sixes!

A few late runs from Patrick Bellerby and Ross Hardy took the county team to a massive 352 for only three wickets from their allotted 40 overs before an excellent tea supplied by St Ishmaels alongside their wicket and outfield, which looked a picture.

The Welsh over 50s found themselves unable to match Pembrokeshire in free scoring and opener Kevin Thomas was bowled by Henry Durrant for only six runs as part of the Neyland left-armer's spell of five overs which left him with figures of 1 for 4.

Andrew Trinder and Webb advanced the score steadily to 55 but both fell for 22 to Ross Hardy with respective catches from Dan Sutton and Patrick Bellerby - followed by Mark Donovan (caught by Holliday off talented young Burton pace man James Davies) and Paul Eady (caught by Hayman off the occasional spin stuff of Peter Bradshaw) to leave the Welsh reply in tatters at 62 for 5.

A hard-hitting innings of 39 from Howard Phillips (five fours and two sixes) gave the innings a slightly better look but then he was caught by Matthew Davies off Holliday, who then had Varghese caught by Bradshaw for a duck

It was the beginning of a swift end for the Over 50s as 'spin twins' Holliday and Bradshaw swept up the tail so that the veterans were reduced to 119 as the last three partnerships failed to produce a single run.

Holliday ended up with three for six from his 4.5 overs and Bradshaw claimed three for 9 in his five overs as the Wales Over 50s were shot  out in 38.5 overs, still 233 runs adrift of the county's score.

Sean Hannon (County Captain):

I was pleased with the way that we played because although we were expected to win with such a strong team we focussed well throughout and never let them off the hook. We had centuries from 'Doc' Holliday and Toby Hayman, plus some other useful scores; we bowled quite well and our fielding was good so it give us a chance to get together before some matches ahead that we know will be even tougher. It was also nice to have such a terrific welcome from Tish, who looked after us superbly, on and off the pitch."

Paul Webb (Wales Over 50s player and County Club chairman):

With Swansea University/Swansea unable to play because of other commitments we were delighted to bring our over 50s side to make sure that there was at least a game. It was also nice that some local players had the chance to play and gain an insight into the standards needed. St Ishmaels were brilliant in hosting their first county senior match and I would like to publically thank them, not only as a Welsh Over 50s player but also as current chairman of Pembroke County Cricket Club."

SCORECARD:

Pembroke County Batting:

Nick Koomen b Nick North 63

Simon Holliday retired 100

Dan Sutton b Rod Murphy 26

Peter Bradshaw b Ian Milsom 31

Toby Hayman retired 103

Patrick Bellerby not out 4

Ross Hardy not out 9

Extras 16

Total (3 wickets) 352

Wales Over 50s Bowling:

John Kenchington 5-0-29-0; Anthony Mathias 5-0-32-0; Paul Eady 5-0-40-0; Nick North 5-0-52-1; Paul Webb 5-0-27-0; Rod Murphy 5-0-60-1; Ian Milsom 5-0-43-1; Filgi Varghese 5-0-54-0.

Wales Over 50s Batting:

Andrew Trinder ct Dan Sutton b Ross Hardy 22

Kevin Thomas b Henry Durrant 6

Paul Webb ct Patrick Bellerby b Ross Hardy 22

Mark Donovan ct Simon Holliday b James Davies 5

Paul Eady ct Toby Hayman b Peter Bradshaw 6

Howard Phillips ct Matthew Davies b Simon Holliday 39

Filgi Varghese ct Peter Bradshaw b Simon Holliday 0

John Kenchington ct Matthew Davies b Peter Bradshaw 6

Ian Milsom b Simon Holliday 6

Rod Murphy lbw b Peter Bradshaw 0

Nick North not out 0

Extras 7

Total (all out) 119

Pembroke County Bowling:

Matthew Davies 8-3-25-0; Henry Durrant 5-1-4-1; Brad McDermott-Jenkins 4-0-16-0; Ross Hardy 7-2-49-2; James Davies 5-3-7-1; Peter Bradshaw 5-2-9-3; Simon Holliday 4.5-1-6-3