Alan Brown Cup – First Round:

 
 

Johnston (103 all out) lost to Llanrhian (106 for 1) by 9 wickets

 
Umpires: Arthur Brady & Chris Stapleton
Scorers: Steve Mills (Snr) & Jason Cole
 
Llanrhian took a major step towards achieving a hat-trick of successes in the Alan Brown Cup as they made the journey to Johnston and came away with a convincing victory over one of the other fancied teams in the competition.
 
Nigel Delaney’s team put Johnston in to bat first and their excellent fielding supported tight bowling to restrict ‘The Glebelands’ Gang’ to 103 all out in their final over and then skipper Delaney and former captain Richard Read batted so positively that Llanrhian won with over eight overs, and nine wickets, to spare!
 

Johnston lose key wickets – Llanrhian don’t!

 
Johnston lost early wickets in their search for a big score and paid the price against Chris Arundel (4 for 23), Anthony ‘Chunk’ Couzens (3 for 23) and Daf Williams (1 for 22) so that only Leigh Walters (17), Chris Fitzpatrick (20) and Chris Goodridge (15) ever seemed likely to bat for long periods but fell at key times – and in the final analysis some of their ‘big guns;’ failed to fire on the night!
 
In sharp contrast, Delaney and Read were quickly into their stride and put on 74 runs for the first wicket and the latter had 30 to his name when he sought a quick second run and was beaten by a direct hit from the deep.
 
But Delaney, with seven fours and a six to his name in a fine unbeaten 45, kept the scoreboard ticking along and with 12 extras also boosting the total it only needed 10 not out from Jack Jones to see Llanrhian to a semi-final place at Hundleton in the semi-final.
 

Laugharne walk over versus Crymych

 
*Since Crymych were unable to raise a team it means that Laugharne progress to the semi-finals, where they will place at Stackpole.
 
*Holders Llanrhian now face a trip to Hundleton in search of a win that will see them in a third successive final – and seeking a hat-trick of Alan Brown Cup successes.