Pembrokeshire Over 50s (139 all out) lost to Wales Over 60s (227 for 2) by 88 runs

 
Umpires: Chris Stapleton and Steve Williams
Scorers: Janice Webb and Judith Tucker
Venue: Cresselly Cricket Club
 
The curtain on Pembrokeshire’s limited cricket season was brought down in fine style at Cresselly on Sunday as the Pembrokeshire Over 50s played host to the Wales Over 60s team.
 
On a pitch that looked an absolute picture the Welsh Vets showed their class with bat and ball, and eventually ran out victors by 88 runs as Pembrokeshire paid for a couple of dropped catches in the field and when they chased a large total lost two early wickets, battled back with stands of 52 and 40 but then failed against the slow stuff bowled by the wily old campaigners in the Welsh team.
 

Excellent start for Wales Vets as Neyland’s Lyn leads the way . . .

 
The over 60s got off to an excellent start via Neyland’s opening bat Lyn Rees and Peter Docherty before Rees retired after 17.2 overs with 35 to his name, including four fours, five twos and even a three to show how fit he was.
 
St Ishmaels’ all-rounder Kevin Bowen had made a cracking start  for Pembrokeshire with a maiden to start the match and he also added a wicket maiden as he took a return catch to finally shift Docherty for 19 in his creditable 1-18 spell from eight overs.
 

. . . And Tish all-rounder Stuart also joins the run fest!

 
But Stuart Carpenter, now also domiciled in Tish, showed what an asset he is for the Welsh over 60s as he struck two fours and two sixes in his 39 before he also stepped down to give others a chance.
 
Hugh Quick (two big sixes in his 36), Rob Franklin (32, including four fours and a six), and Steve Durston (three fours and a six in his 29) all retired as The Over 60s added 82 runs from overs 21 to 30 and another 75 in their final ten overs – the only failure with the bat being Alistair Lawson, who was caught by Nigel Morgan off Ian Milsom for three runs.
 
Skipper Richard Harris, playing on home turf, struck a late unbeaten 18 and the county over 50s knew that they faced a serious challenge.
 

County struggle after disappointing start

 
But just how steep was the mountain ahead become even more daunting as they lost openers Phil Sutton and David Haines in the space of nine deliveries as the former player was caught and the latter hit the ball onto his toe and back on to the stumps!
 
But Jonathan and Neal Williams knuckled down well to add a half-century partnership, with Jonathan finding the boundary five times in his 32 and Neal stroking seven fours in his top score of 42.
 
Spare a thought for Richard Scriven, who came in at the fall of the third wicket but pulled a calf muscle looking for a quick single and had to retire hurt without facing a ball but there were useful contributions from Filgi Varghese (27) and Pembs’ skipper Paul Webb (15).
 
They were unable to build any real impetus, however, as slow bowlers Doyle (Tata Steel) and Durston (Newport Fugitives) – and although Nigel Morgan added 13 late runs it was Carpenter who mopped up the tail with a 2 for 13 haul as Wales over 60s showed that age is no restriction to plenty of class acts!
 

SCORECARDS:

 
Wales Over 60s Batting:
Lyn Rees retired 35
Peter Docherty ct & b Kevin Bowen 19
Stuart Carpenter retired 39
Hugh Quick retired 36
Alistair Lawson ct Nigel Morgan b Ian Milsom 3
Rob Franklyn retired 32
Steve Durston retired 29
Ryland Wallace retired 1
Richard Harris not out 18
Peter Doyle not out 1
Extras 14
Total (2 wickets) 227
 
Pembrokeshire Over 50s Bowling:
Kevin Bowen 8-2-18-1; Rodney Murphy 6-0-27-0; Filgi Varghese 7-0-31-0; Ian Milsom 8-0-51-0; Nigel Morgan 7-0-51-0; Paul Webb 4-0-36-0
 
Pembrokeshire Over 50s Batting:
David Haynes b Colin Tucker 1
Phil Sutton ct Leighton O’Connor b Anthony Mathias 1
Jonathan Williams b Peter Doyle 32
Neal Williams lbw b Anthony Mathias 42
Richard Scriven retired hurt 0
Filgi Varghese b Peter Doyle 27
Paul Webb ct Steve Durston b Rob Franklin 15
Kevin Bowen b Steve Durston 1
Nigel Morgan ct Peter Docherty b Stuart Carpenter 13
Ian Milsom not out 2
Rodney Murphy b Stuart Carpenter 0
Extras 5
Total (all out) 139
 
Wales Over 60s Bowling:
Colin Tucker 4-1-24-1; Anthony Mathias 8-1-30-2; Richard Harris 5-3-7-0; Steve Durston 8-1-28-1; Peter Doyle 8-1-25-2; Stuart Carpenter 3.2-0-13-2; Rob Franklin 3-1-7-1