Cricket Reports 24th April 2016

 

 

League champions Haverfordwest started their season with a thumping home win over a depleted Carew side that was minus several key players and paid the price in a defeat by 126 runs.

Put in to bat first, The Town amassed 207 for 6 thanks to a superb 123 from Simon Holliday before Sean Whitfield removed him from the last ball of their 45 overs, assisted by Dai Davies (34) Gareth Davies and Nigel Delaney as Tom Davies (3 for 43) was the pick of the Carew bowlers.

Veteran opener Nick Scourfield led the Carew reply with an unbeaten 36 but the rest found it hard going against pace man Adam James (5 for 34). There was a wicket apiece for Holliday and Clive Tucker before new recruit Gareth Davies made a bit of club history by claiming a hat-trick from the first three balls he has ever bowled for The Town!

Missing from the Carew lineup was Scott Richards, who broke his leg playing football the day before - and we wish the popular youngster a speedy return to action!
 
 

Narberth announced their return to the top echelon with a nine-wicket win at Llanrhian, who batted first and reached 158 all out against Ben Hughes (5 for 21) Ben and Kyle Quartermaine.

Geraint Morris (34), Matthew Bennett (33) and Tom Dunn (16) were the principle scorers for Llanrhian but Narberth made short shrift of their target despite the early loss of Jordan Howell  to Luke Jones as Richard Adams and Kyle Quartermaine saw them home in only 26 overs.

Adams had 14 fours in his 92 not out whilst Quartermaine sped to an unbeaten 51 Five fours and a six) to help their side to a cracking start!
 

Neyland reduced Whitland to 98 all out at the Athletic Ground thanks to excellent fast bowling by Nathan Banner (5 for 39) and some canny slow stuff by Andrew Miller (4 for 11) - and it could have been much worse for the visitors but for a gritty knock of 61 from Dylan Blain and double figures for Matthew 'Titch' Davies.

Wayne Howells (3 for 23) made sure that Neyland had to fight to reach their target at 101 for 4, with Nick Koomen stroking a quick-fire 60 not out alongside double figures by Gregg Miller.

There were runs galore at Cresselly as Adam Chandler inspired them to a massive 280 for 5 after being asked to bat first by St Ishmaels, who mustered 185 all out in return.

Chandler stroked 15 boundaries in his undefeated 123 and had excellent support in a stand of 129 from Iwan Izzard (two big sixes in his 69) and cameos from Phil Williams, Alex Bailey, Ryan Lewis and Simon Cole against Dean John (2 for 82), Jordan Milich (1 for 59) and Andrew Pawlett (1 for 66).

Lewis (3 for 64) and Mike Shaw (4 for 43) trundled their slow stuff to good effect as Cresselly fielded so that although Brennan Devonald (45),  Danny Richards (34) and especially Dan Howells (59 not out) batted well for Tish there was no stopping the Cresselly juggernaut!
 
 

Johnston won by 13 runs at Lawrenny in a tense finale after they scored 188 for 8 and eventually dismissed the home side for 175 all out in a cracking game.

Chris Fitzpatrick (51 not out) led the Johnston batting, assisted by Lee Summons (33), Steve Mills (35) and Dan Sutton (18) against Rob Williams (3 for 62), Harry Thomas (2 for 55) and Brad McDermott-Jenkins (3 for 36).

Lawrenny were always in with a shout thanks to McDermott-Jenkins (48), Simon 'Chief' Cole, James Buckle and Rob Williams but lost wickets at key times to Steve Mills (3 for 45), Chris Phillips (3 for 64), Fitzpatrick (2 for 25) and Sutton so that the visitors edged home to a welcome winning start!