XL Wales (252 for 6) beat Pembrokeshire Youth (251 for 6) by one run

 
Venue: The Racecourse, Haverfordwest CC
 
For the second time this season the Wales XL Club beat the County Youth team off the final ball of a high-scoring match, with the XL captain Simon Holliday rounding off another undefeated century by striking a boundary that nudged his team over the line late in the day.

Holliday’s amazing season was maintained as he rapped 10 fours and five sixes as he came in at the unusual position No 6 and took control after his team limped to 55 for 4, finding a willing partner in Josh Hicks (four fours and a six in his 30) and then with Matthew ‘Titch’ Davies (four fours and two sixes en route to 35) before Richard Harris reached 15 not out to help his skipper reach their target.

Leading the way for the county youth team as they batted first was John Mansbridge with an accomplished 71 not out (11 boundaries and a six) after his brother Tom had opened with 52 (seven fours and a six) and Aled Phelps also showed what a good all-rounder he is going to be with 56 from his berth at No 6, stroking ten boundaries along the way.

 Nikhil Mathias (26) also looked in form and assisted by 35 from ‘Mr Extras’ (25 of them byes!) a final total of 251 for 6 was a challenging one as Matthew Davies (2 for 31), Alex Saunders (3 for 45), and Gavin Rodway (1 for 38) were the XL wicket-takers.

14 year old Loui Davies showed why he is so highly thought of as he opened the bowling for the county and shifter R Saunders and Paul Mansbridge cheaply before Jake Merry bowled Andrew Mathias (17) and John Mansbridge shifted Nigel Delaney as the County got on top.

But then Holliday entered the scene and although Davies (2 for 17), Tom Mansbridge (1 for 38), Jake Merry (1 for 38), Tom Mansbridge (1 for 31) and Aled Phelps (1 for 30) all bowled well they were unable to prevent ‘The Doc’ from leading his team to victory by example!
 
Pembrokeshire Youth Batting:
John Mansbridge ct Simon Holliday b A Saunders 52
Noah Davies ct Nigel Delaney b Matthew Davies 4
Nitkhil Mathias b A Saunders 26
Tom Mansbridge not out 71
George James b A Saunders 0
Aled Phelps ct Simon Holliday b G Rodway 56
Loui Davies b Matthew Davies 0
Jake Merry not out 7
Extras 35
Total (6 wickets) 251
 
XL Wales Bowling:
Matthew Davies 7-1-31-2; Gavin Rodway 8-1-38-1; Alex Saunders 7-1-45-3; Richard Harris 9-1-44-0; Simon Holliday 5-1-16-0; Mark Hicks 4-0-41-0
 
XL Wales Batting:
Robert Saunders b Loui Davies 3
Andrew Mathias b Jake Merry 17
Paul Mansbridge Ct George James b Loui Davies 9
Nigel Delaney b John Mansbridge 2
Josh Hicks b Aled Phelps 30
Simon Holliday not out 119
Matthew Davies ct Aled Phelps b Tom Mansbridge 35
Richard Harris not out 15
Extras 2
Total (6 wickets) 252
 
Pembrokeshire Youth Bowling:
Archie Thomas 5-2-14-0; Loui Davies 6.2-0-17-2; John Mansbridge 4.3-1-31.1
George Smith 5-0-30-0; Jake Merry 5-0-38-1; Aled Phelps 2-0-3-1; Noah Davies 5-0-32-0; Tom Mansbridge 5-0-38-1; George James 1-0-10-0

PHOTOS:
Simon Holliday
Tom Mansbridge
John Mansbridge
Aled Phelps