Alan Brown Cup semi-finals:

Llanrhian (80-5) beat Herbrandston (79-8) by 5 wickets

Llanrhian came through a tense semi-final with Herbie to book their place in the Alan Brown final as Nigel Delaney and Tom Clarke saw them over the line.

The conditions of the previous day made for a difficult batting wicket, and Herbie were put in and struggled to 79-8 in 20 overs - but things then hung in the balance in the Llanrhian reply as they fell to 56-5 before Delaney and Clarke steadied matters.

The visitors got a nightmare start as both openers fell for ducks. Jonty Bennett was caught by Paul Lewis in Dafydd Williams' first over - and then Leigh Marchant drove a Clarke delivery to Fraser Watson.

No 3 Leigh Walters then guided Herbie from there and although wickets continued to fall at the other end, Karl Davies removing namesake Ryan (9), Aaron Bowles (0) and Dean John (5), Walters built sensibly.

Nigel Delaney also clean bowled Jay Power (5) and Scott Reid (6) while Williams returned to trap Robert Hood (0) LBW, but Walters finished 31 not out (one six and one four) - and found support from Paul Nicholas (9 not out) at the end to give the visitors hope.

For the home side, Williams finished with 2-15, Davies 3-29, Clarke 1-12 and Delaney 2-20, all from five-over stints.

Herbie battle until the end

But Herbie came out fighting in the Llanrhian reply as Paul Lewis (1) was caught by Power off Dean John, and Hood skittled Jack Jones (5) to leave matters at 14-2.

Skipper Richard Reed was next to go after hitting two fours in his 14, the opener caught on the boundary by Scott Reid off Nicholas, and Ben Jones (2) was also bowled by Hood.

At 36-4 Herbie sensed blood but No 4 Delaney stayed firm, and Russell Watkins came in and cracked a six in his 13 to edge the Cows closer before a mix up between the pair saw him run out.

But Clarke added impetus by getting off the mark with a boundary, and after he and Delaney and taken the score to 66-5, the youngster effectively ended matters with a four and a big six off Nicholas.

He finished 19 not out, sealing the win with a single in the 18th over, with Delaney unbeaten on 17 (two fours) as Llanrhian returned to the Alan Brown final for the first time since 1999.

For Herbie, Hood finished on 2-15, John 1-20, Nicholas 1-27, and Marchant 0-18.
 

PHOTO:
Nigel Delaney - used his experience to score vital runs and take wickets for Llanrhian

 

Stackpole (174-3) beat Hundleton (88 all out) by 86 runs

A century from John Williams set up a big win for Stackpole as they booked their place in the Alan Brown Cup final at Hundleton.

Richard Mackay's team went in as big favourites against a side playing two divisions below them, and took advantage of being put into bat by racking up 174-3 in 20 overs.

That was despite Ben Adams striking an early blow for the home side as he had Josh Lewis (10) caught and bowled, but Williams and Lewys Gibby took over from there.

The latter hit three fours and a six in his 29, before giving a catch to Adams off Steffan Williams. Yori Roberts made 12 before falling to the same bowler as he took 2-28.

Williams’ big hitting wins it for Stackpole

But Stackpole opener Williams finished with 112 not out, smashing 13 fours and six sixes to effectively bat Hundleton out the game.

Their task looked even bigger when Ewan MacDonald bowled Stuart McNiffe (1), but his partner Paul Fox batted well to make 40 (three fours and two sixes), and there was also 20 (two fours) from Hundleton's  Jonathan Williams.

Wickets fell regularly though and the home side were eventually 88 all out in the final over as MacDonald took 4-15 in his three overs, Mackay 2-13, George Smith 1-21, Alan Webster 2-25 and Paul Oeppen 1-12.

It means a final date for Mackay's men against Llanrhian at Whitland on Sunday, July 7th and a match to savour since both teams have potential match winners with bat and ball.
 

PHOTO:
John Williams - superb century for Stackpole