Super start for Pembrokeshire Regional Under 11s

Carmarthenshire U11s (72 all out) lost to Pembrokeshire U11s (115 for 9) by 43 runs

Skipper Ifan Wyn-Jones, on his regional debut, led his team to an excellent victory in the season opener against Carmarthenshire at a sunny Kidwelly CC as Pembrokeshire lost the toss and were invited to bat in this 30-over fixture.

Openers Oscar Willington (14) and Connor Davies (9) started well before Davies, with two fours, fell to an excellent catch. Rhys Phelps (46) came to the wicket and with Willington laid a great foundation, taking the score to 50. Having done the hard work including two fours, Willington then fell to a brilliant catch from Theo James.

Phelps was joined by Liam Morley-Trivett (7), and this pair added a rapid 30 runs. Oscar Lewis, Rhys Lewis then Rhys Jones kept the scoreboard moving before with the total at 96 Phelps was finally out for a superb hard hitting 46 (two sixes and five fours). Cian Rees (10) and William Harries (5 not out) added late impetus to take Pembrokeshire to a decent 115 for 9 at tea as Liam Phillips was the pick of the bowlers with an excellent 3 for 19.

Carms soon in batting trouble

Carmarthenshire were soon on the back foot in reply with Oscar Lewis (2 for 19) reducing them to 8 for 2, including the big scalp of Carwyn Jones. But the home batsman rebuilt steadily before Phelps (1 for 11) grabbed a sharp caught and bowled with the total at 45. Cellan Allcock (29) played some superb shots to take his team to 68 for 3, at which point Pembrokeshire stole the game away with an amazing spell of bowling and fielding.

Allcock fell to a great catch by Willington off the bowling of Jamie Keating (3 for 5), who snapped up another two wickets in two balls, one a sharp catch from Rees. Dylan James (0 for 11) kept the pressure on and Rees (2 for 5) then matched Keating’s feat with two wickets in two balls, followed by a run out, leaving Carmarthenshire bewildered. It was left to Willington (1 for 5) to seal victory, clean bowling the last batsman.

So a delighted Pembrokeshire team gained a deserved victory, thanks to an excellent all round performance. Skipper Ifan Wyn-Jones did an excellent job in managing his bowlers alongside a smart performance behind the stumps. The positive batting, disciplined bowling and energetic sharp fielding was great to see, leaving coaches Jon Willington and Jamie Phelps delighted that the players’ hard work during the winter has paid off.

Pembrokeshire Squad: Ifan Wyn-Jones (capt) (Llechryd), Rhys Jones (Whitland) Oscar Lewis (Lawrenny) William Harries (Hook) Rhys Lewis (Cresselly) Jamie Keating (Kilgetty) Oscar Willington (Hook) Cian Rees (Whitland) Rhys Phelps (Hook) Liam Morley-Trivett (Laugharne) Dylan James (Hook) Connor Davies (Lawrenny).