A Masterclass from Neyland A, and victories too for Hook and Cresselly

 
Umpires: Rob Bellerby and Ian Milsom
 
Venue: The Community Hub, Neyland
 

Bellerby stars as Neyland run amok

 

Neyland A (149 for 3) beat Pembroke (68 all out) by 81 runs

 
Neyland showed just why they have dominated indoor cricket in this county for so long as they produced a terrific performance against a Pembroke side who battled hard but were brushed aside as Neyland batted in style, took three outstanding catches and were strong in the fielding part of the game. They were also helped by the fact that Pembroke conceded a massive 25 extras!
 
Patrick Bellerby and Dai Davies opened with 60 runs in five overs before both retired, with sharp running between the wickets that saw a glut of threes – but there was a glimmer of hope when Sean Hannon (12) gave a return catch to Ceri Brace; with Andrew Miller suffering a rare blip with the bat as he was bowled by Jack Harries for a golden duck.
 
But Ross Hardy looks sharp again after his injury as he blasted 27 before retiring (and not wanting to go!) after facing only 17 balls. The early loss of Jack John, adjudged lbw to talented 15 year old Jay Sutherland simply brought Messrs Davies and Bellerby back to the crease and more ‘torture’ as  Davies ended with 30 not out from (16 deliveries and Bellerby scored 47 not out in 24 balls  to confirm this writer’s belief that over the time since I played on the first evening of this new form of cricket for Pembroke all those years ago, that Patrick is one of the finest all-round players of them all!
 
In sharp contrast, Pembroke opened with two of their best batsmen in Jack Harries and Ceri Brace but tight bowling saw Harries depart for five in 11 balls when his blistering off-drive was casually pounced by the ubiquitous Bellerby – and there were other excellent catches by Andrew Miller and Dai Davies, alongside a catch and stumping from skipper Sean Hannon as only Brace (19) and Gareth Long (18) managed double figures.
 
For Neyland, there were tight spells from Jack John (3 for 12 in three overs), Bellerby (1 for 7 in two overs) Davies (1 for 14) and Miller (1 for 15) as Pembroke were dismissed with an over to spare.
 
 


















 

Seniors raise their game but still miss out as Makepeace inspires Hook

 

Pembroke Seniors A (95 all out) lost to Hook (96 for 4) by two wickets

 
After feeling they had been harshly treated for their batting in this column last week, the old timers certainly raised their batting tempo against a youthful  Hook team that clearly benefitted from the experience of their own ‘old-timer’ as Matthew Holder played alongside his 15 year old son Charlie.
 
David Haynes looked in focussed mood as he reached 21 but was the victim of an amazing run out by Harry Makepeace, who was off balance and 20 metres from the stumps but brought off a direct hit – and Nick Daley looked in even better form as he retired and then returned but was removed by Makepeace, who featured with a fantastic spell of swing bowling that saw him return fine figures of 4 for 27, but which could have been even better, but for his conceding an astonishing 12 extras as the ball seamed all over the place!
 
Vets’ last man Mark Hicks chipped in with 11 runs after Andrew Williams, Alan Webster and Jonathan ‘Taff’ came and went as Aled Phelps (1 for 18) was the other main bowler for Hook.
 
Owen Phelps and Makepeace (13) got Hook off to a steady start before both were well caught by Andrew Williams off Daley and Webster, before Aled Phelps and Charlie Holder built a 50 partnership with excellent running between the wickets.
 
Aled was finally caught and bowled by ‘Taff’ Williams for 25 but Holder Junior was joined by his father, who finished on 7 not out as Charlie belted a boundary to take him to a mature 29 not out after Jacob Lay became Webster’s second wicket.






















 
 
 

Williams belies his age as Doves defeat Herbie

 

Cresselly (135 for 5) beat Herbrandston 1sts (105 for 5) by 30 runs

 
Cresselly’s veteran opening bat Neill Williams has given many years of service to the club and Welsh Seniors, and he showed he is still capable indoors as he top scored for The Doves with 45 not out – whilst Herbie skipper Robbie Hood followed his excellent knock the previous week with an unbeaten half century – but it was Cresselly who secured a welcome win as their skipper Tom Arthur featured well in the bowling stakes alongside Lucien Thornton, Griff Jenkins and Jones, all taking a wicket apiece..
 
Milo Jones (16) and Lewis Jones (18) also chipped in with Cresselly cameos before skipper Arthur showed he can bat, coming in last and reaching 31 before he was bowled by Dean John. There were also 19 extras but it was Williams who held things together over his two stints at the crease as Callum Power and Karl Davies were the other Herbie wicket-takers.
 
Power also opened the batting for Herbie and shared a good opening stand with his skipper Hood but then was run out for 21 - - and the wickets of Dean John, Karl Davies and Rob Kingston fell in quick succession.
 
Kristan Bennett  added nine runs and there were 14 extras but it was only Hood who stood firm, moving to an excellent 52 before he fell to Griff Jenkins, assisted by Neill Williams’ catch, to round off an entertaining tussle.