Wales over 50s beat Pembrokeshire counterparts in tyense finale

Wales over 50s (143 for 7) beat Pembrokeshire Over 50s (142 for 8) by one run

Venue: St Ishmaels
Umpires: Allan Hansen and Duncan Williams
Scorers: Janice Webb and John Davies
 
Pembrokeshire Over 50s needed four runs from the final ball of their 40-overs per team against their Welsh counterparts in an entertaining friendly at St Ishmaels – but Steve Jones (Burton) and Ian Milsom (Neyland) could only manage to scamper a two and so the Welsh team went back ‘up the line’ with victory by the narrowest of margins.
 
There were good performances by Tish players Kevin Bowen, Stuart Carpenter and Robbie Thomas and it is worth noting that both teams were given a warm welcome by spectators who made sure that they didn’t break the self-distancing rules set out by the Welsh Cricket officers.
 

Bowen shows his quality play for the county

 
Adrian Davies (47), Andy Price (34) and Adrian Webber (23) led the Welsh Over 50s to their reasonable tally as Kevin Bowen claimed 4 for 14 in his eight overs alongside Stuart Carpenter (2 for 22) as Nigel Morgan (Haverfordwest) grabbed the other wicket whilst conceding 30 runs from his eight overs.
 
Bowen also caught the eye for the county over 50s team with 31 runs, a score matched by his Tish colleague Robbie Thomas, with Leighton O’Connor (ex-Whitland) supporting with 22.
But Mike Davies (3 for 30), Anthony Mathias (2 for 32) and Nigel Clayton (2 for 12) did just enough to take the Welsh Over 50s to their successful start to the foreshortened season.
 

Neyland slam Welsh premier rivals

Neyland (156 all out) beat Port Talbot (75 all out) by 81 runs

 
Venue: The Athletic Ground, Neyland
Umpires: Rob Bellerby and Phil Sutton
Scorers: John Laugharne and Ben Davies
 
Neyland started their short season with an excellent win over Welsh Premier Division One rivals Port Talbot as Patrick Bellerby’s excellent half century took them to 156 all out from 38 of their 40 overs – and Port Talbot could only muster 75 all out in 17.5 overs.
 
To be fair to the visitors they were without their professionals (supplied by Glamorgan CCC) in Connor Brown and Nick Selman, plus first team regulars like Stuart Peters and John Vobe, but Neyland were also minus the likes of Patrick Hannon, Nathan banner and Henry Durrant – although Brad McDermott-Jenkins made his debut after joining them from Lawrenny.
 

Neyland overcome early chaos

 
Port Talbot pace man Richard Edwards caused early chaos in the Neyland camp as he grabbed an impressive haul of 4 for 5 from six overs, four maidens alongside skipper Barry Huxtable’s 2 for 30, Jack Elliott 2 for 23) and Josh Tobin (1 for 48) but they clearly weren’t used to Pembrokeshire cup rules regarding wides because they conceded  37 extras, 24 of them wides.
 
Patrick Bellerby had seven boundaries in his 53 and Ashley Sutton smote two sixes and two fours in his speedy 20 off 14 balls, with Andrew Miller (14) and skipper Sean Hannon (14 not out) the only others in double figures.
 

Hardy hits Port Talbot where it hurts

 
When Port Talbot batted they were soon in trouble at 17 for 4 thanks to three early wickets for Ross Hardy in his four overs which only conceded nine runs- and no-one was ever able to get going as leg spinner Scott Jones 92 for 15) and spin twin Andrew Miller (2 for 16) maintained the pressure.
 
Tom Pritchard only needed four balls to finish on 1 for 5 and skipper Sean Returned the unusual performance of taking 1 for 12 in his eight overs and then during a sanitisation break donned the gloves and pads to take three catches and claim a stumping as an all-rounder in every sense of the words!.
 
*It would be interesting to know if any other Pembrokeshire player has ever scored double figures, picked up a wicket and finished in style behind the stumps in this way – please let us know at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk asap!*