Pembrokeshire U14s (237 for 4) beat Cardiff U14s (199 for 8) by 38 runs

Venue: Cresselly Cricket Club

Pembrokeshire Captain Jacob Owen won the toss and chose to bat on a road of a track at a sun-soaked Cresselly CC. Opening up Lucas Davies scored 7 before being bowled by an in-swinger. Reuben Whitehead (19) and Lewis Miller (27) put Pembs back on track, laying the foundations with a 57 run partnership. Jacob Owen took the skipper’s mantle, top scoring with 68 not out off 73 balls. He shared an 83 run partnership with Seth Willington (38 off 49 balls)  and a 72 run partnership (off 7 overs) with his younger brother Luc, who came in like a firecracker, smashing his first and last balls for 4. Luc ended with 33 not out off only 24 balls as Pembrokeshire ended with 237 for 4 off their 40 overs. 

Cardiff made a good start in reply, passing 100 in the 20th over but regular wickets from Jacob Owen (8 overs 2/34), Luc Owen (5 overs 1/20), Lucas Davies (4 overs 1/24), a terrific run out from Harry Makepeace and  tight bowling from Seth Willington (7 overs 0/24) helped build pressure and up the required run rate. Roan Organti batted superbly for Cardiff, anchoring the innings with a well-made 71 not out, batting the whole innings. Star bowler for Pembrokeshire was Will Phillips though with 3 for 15 off his 7 overs. 

A tremendous effort from Pembrokeshire U14s to win by 38 runs especially considering we only had 10 players today due to numerous unfortunate circumstances! 
Top effort boys! 

Thanks to Cardiff for making an effort to get the game on when they were short too, Cresselly CC for producing such a fantastic pitch, Simon Richards for umpiring and to the Pembrokeshire parents who produced a fantastic tea!

 

Titanic clash as game ends in a tie!

Pembrokeshire U14s (175 for 5) tied with Mid Glamorgan (175 all out)

Venue: Kilgetty CC 

Pembrokeshire won the toss and elected to bat first on a glorious sunny day at Kilgetty Cricket Club. 

Owen and  Charlie opened the batting and were patient against good spells from the Mid Glam openers. Like London buses though when the wickets did come, they came in quick succession with Owen (16), Charlie (29) and Lewis (2) all falling either side of drinks. Jacob and Seth set about rebuilding, getting the 14s to 101/3 in 30 overs. With 10 overs to go and wickets in hand both pushed on, scoring boundaries regularly. Seth departed for 21, having shared an 81 partnership with Jacob for the 2nd game running. Luc (20 not out) and James (3 not out) both scored quick late runs after Jacob had gone for a magnificent 65, made off only 56 balls (ten 4s and one 6). The 14s scored 74 runs in the last 10 overs to get to 175 for 5 at teas. Elijah was the pick of the Mid Glam bowlers with the spinner taking 3/22.

In reply Mid Glamorgan made a good start, reaching drinks at 74/3, Jacob (2) and Will with the wickets at that point. The game was finely balanced with our opponents needing 102 runs off twenty overs with seven wickets in hand. Knowing his team needed a breakthrough skipper Joe brought himself back on early. The breakthrough came after a tight over where the batsmen tried to nip a quick single but Lucas was sharp in the field getting a direct-hit run out. Joe followed that by having the next batsmen caught behind in his last over. 

Mid Glamorgan needed 44 off the last seven overs, with five wickets down. A few boundaries swung the game massively in their favour leaving them needing only 6 runs off the final 3 overs. 

First ball of the 38th, Lewis bowled the batsmen. Mid Glam managed 3 singles off the over.

Will bowled the 39th, conceding just one single before getting the set batsmen caught at point by Owen. 

Lewis didn’t concede a run off the first three balls of the last over. The 4th ball was edged behind, but the hard chance which went down with Mid Glam scampering a single to tie the scores. 5th ball the facing batsmen blocked and didn’t run, but his partner did ending in a run out at the bowler’s end.
Last ball of the game, scores tied, 1 to win for Mid Glam, 1 wicket left. 
Lewis bowled a good length ball which the batsmen tried to hit over mid-on but didn’t connect well with Joe taking the catch to tie the game! 

Joe (1/24 in 8), Will (2/25 in 7), Jacob (2/33 in 8) & Lewis (2/30 in 6) were the Pembrokeshire wicket takers with Lucas, Luc and Lewis/Joe getting key run outs. 

A fantastic game which ebbed and flowed with both teams enjoying periods on top with the other fighting back. Pembrokeshire boys showed great character to fight their way back into the game with both bat and ball. Especially Will (bowling the 39th) and Lewis (bowling the 38th and 40th). Great nerve! 

Thanks must go to Kilgetty Cricket Club for their amazing hospitality, especially Ian Poole, Trevor Badham & Becki Badham. Our two umpires Simon Richards and Jon Willington, the Pembrokeshire parents who put on a fantastic tea and Jonny White for stepping into the manager’s role for the day

Seven of the boys involved go on tour to Bromsgrove on the 11th of August but the 14s next regional game is away to Cardiff on Sunday, 25th August