PHOTO:
Pembrokeshire U17s

County Cricket

 

Pembrokeshire (290 for 7) beat Wales Under17s (136 all out) by 154 runs

Umpires: John Williams & Simon Richards
Scorer: John Laugharne (Neyland)
 
Venue: Imble Lane, Pembroke Dock Cricket Club
 
Pembrokeshire's talented young cricketers proved far too strong for a Wales under 17s team on a Pembroke Dock CC pitch which looked an absolute picture and allowed strong stroke play and a chance for bowlers to extract some bounce if they bowled a good length and line.
 
With a maximum of 50 overs per side the county team had some excellent batting performances before their varied bowling attack, assisted by some excellent fielding and catching, saw the national side bowled out in only 32 overs.
 

James outstanding with the bat, supported by Hayman, Jones and Marsh

 Leading the way for Pembrokeshire was Steff James, who followed his outstanding undefeated innings of 128 for Whitland the previous Saturday with a an imperious innings from the No 3 berth after Whitland team mate Geraint Jones had departed cheaply.

James rapped 12 boundaries and two sixes en route to 97 but just when a century seemed a formality he went for a maximum shot and was caught on the boundary by Billington off what scorer John Laugharne reported was the seventh ball of an over!
 
James was joined in a three-figure second-wicket partnership by opener Toby Hayman, who also showed his class with ten boundaries and a five in his 55 before he departed - but the home team's assault on the tiring Welsh side continued unabated as Kurtis Marsh batted well for 40 alongside the powerful Richard Jones, who looked at home at this level with a boundary- laden 54 before both fell to Johnny White, the Haverfordwest teenager topping the Welsh bowling with his 2 for 49 haul.
 

Good bowling by county youngsters

 
The county lost late wickets in a chase for runs but Ryan Morton also marked his county debut with 17 not out - and although James Davies and Loui Davies had no chance to shine with the bat they certainly made an impact with the ball as 14 year old Loui claimed 4 for 44 in his ten overs and James claimed 1 for 21 in eight overs without much luck.
 
Tom Mansbridge's spin stuff earned him figures of 2 for 34 and Steff James completed a man of the match performance with 3 for 12 as only Richard Penn ever looked settled in the Welsh team as Pembrokeshire were worthy winners by such a massive margin!
 
Scorecard:
 
Pembrokeshire Batting:
Toby Hayman (Burton) ct Burns b Andrews 55
Geraint Jones (Whitland) ct Andrews b Sivock 4
Steff James (Whitland) ct Billington b Sivock 97
Kurtis Marsh (Kilgetty) ct Billington b Johnny White 40
Richard Jones (Burton) ct Billington b Johnny White 54
Tom Mansbridge (Saundersfoot) run out 2
 James Davies (Burton) st Berry b Crawford 1
 Ryan Morton (Lawrenny) not out 17
Lewis Hough  not out 0
Extras 20
Total (7 wickets) 290
 
Wales U17s Bowling:
S Sivock 6-0-43-2; Johnny White  9-0-49-2;  J Andrews  10-0-33-1; P Billington  10-0-55-0; B Davies  10-0-53-1;  R Crawford  10-0-36-1.
 
Wales Under 17s batting:
Richard Sen 21 as top scorer in their 136 all out in 32 overs
 
Pembrokeshire Bowling:
James Davies 8-1-21-1;  Loui Davies 10-1-44-4; Tom Mansbridge 6-0-34-2;  Ryan Morton 2-0-12-0; Steffan James 4-1-12-3; Kurtis Marsh 2-0-10-0; Aled Phelps 4-0-14-2