Pembrokeshire Indoor Cricket League:

 
 
Umpires: Huw Simpkins & Ian Milsom
Scorers: Ginny Davies, Bobby Neale, Johnny Lewis, Sarah Arran, Clarissa Lewis, Ffion Ashman
Venue: Neyland Community Hub:
 
 
 

Match Two:  Rhys’s big hit spares Cresselly blushes

 

Pembs Seniors A (100 for 5) lost to Cresselly (101 for 2) by 4 wickets

 

There was a nerve-jangling conclusion to the game between Pembs Seniors A and Cresselly where it looked as if the ‘old-timers’ might just have done enough to secure a first success of the campaign as ‘The Doves’ teenager Rhys Barnes faced the final ball of the game needing a six to win a hard-fought battle, played in an excellent spirit.
 
Barnes was on 21 not out at that moment but he maintained his composure and drove the ball strongly to the back wall – and the Seniors A were denied victory!
 
Pembs Seniors A finally played well enough to reach the three-figure mark, which is no mean feat when one considers the talented players they have lost since last season - and at one stage it looked as if they might have scored enough against a Cresselly side which had a decent start through 62 year-old Neal Williams and teenager Griff Jenkins (14) but then faded in the middle order.
 
David Haynes and Jonathan ‘Taffy’ Williams (13, including a six) started well for Seniors A but then Cresselly skipper Tom Arthur, making a welcome return to action, removed Williams and Alan Webster with successive deliveries.
 
Haynes eventually departed for 23 runs, including a six, but Nick Daley showed why he is one of the in-form batsmen in the league with a hard-hitting. 37 not out in his two stints at the crease, with Andrew Williams (10) and ‘Mr Extras’ (14) taking them to exactly 100 for 5 wickets.
 
After Jenkins’ demise Cresselly looked as if they were going to stroll home via Neal Williams and Rhys Barnes, but the run rate dropped as Jonathan and Andrew Williams bowled tight spells - but they judged their finish to perfection as Lewis Jones chipped in with a vital 22 not out and Barnes held his nerve – and Cresselly were from the final delivery of an absorbing tussle!
 

 



 

Match One: Hook win in a tight finale

 

Pembroke (81 for 4) lost to Hook (82 for 5) by 1 wicket

 

There was a close win for Hook as they restricted Pembroke to a slightly disappointing 81 for 4 but then found it equally hard-going and in the final analysis it was an unbeaten cameo by last man Owen Phelps that saw them through in the final over.
 
Phelps had also featured with the only maiden over when Pembroke batted and conceded only 12 runs from his three overs, as did his big brother Aled whilst taking the vital early scalp of Jack Harries as he cleverly bowled from well behind the wicket and took the return catch. Charlie Holder also claimed a wicket as his dad Matthew took a good catch, albeit with a bit of a fumble!
 
George Morgan and Callum Davies, eagerly awaiting the imminent birth of the new baby rhino in his work at Folly Farm, both departed cheaply and although there were cameos from Ceri Brace (14) and Krunal Patel (14) it was again ‘Mr Reliable’ Luke Butler who retired after opening with 25 runs but came back to finish on 37 not out
 
But Holder senior was unable to repeat his batting heroics of the previous week before George James and Harry Makepeace settled things down in a productive partnership before the latter was run out for 17 – and Hook lost two very quick wickets  to Callum Davies before Owen Phelps was joined again by James and things went well until James was also run out for 31.
 
It left Owen Phelps alone and he managed to see his side through, but not without a few nervous moments, before hitting the winning three that took his side to victory – but there were a few bitten fingernails as he tried for a big hit to finish in style!
 
 
 

Match Three:  Neyland keep building big scores

 

Neyland (130 for 3) beat Herbrandston (69 for  5) by 61 runs

 

Neyland continued this season’s march to another indoor cricket league title as they were awarded the points because Herbrandston were sadly unable to raise a team - but they still did well to at least honour the fixture with a mix of A and B team players.
 
Neyland were also without key players like Andrew Miller and Dai Davies, their batting heroes of the previous week, but were able to call on Patrick Bellerby and Paul Murray, two of the ‘greats’ of yesteryears’ teams - and they opened the batting with differing results.
 
‘Minty’ Murray fell to a clearly-delighted Ian Milsom thanks to a Dillon Lewis catch, with Korey Arran run out soon afterwards - but then the Neyland run-making machine kicked in as Bellerby was joined by Brad-McDermott-Jenkins until both retired on 25 - only for skipper Sean Hannon to belt 24 runs and Bellerby went on to finish on 39 not out in a high score of 130 for 3.
 
A measure of their skills in this version of cricket can be gauged by the fact that their total included four fours and a six, but also an amazing 27 threes as proof of their running between the wickets and although there were wickets for Karl Davies and the afore-mentioned ‘Minky’, who only conceded 20 runs; whilst Davies, the normally-miserly Dillon Lewis and Rhys Power (off to Australia to work after this game) went for runs aplenty.
 
A feature of the Herbie innings were cameos for Davies Callum and Rhys Power but no-one stayed long as the Neyland bowlers had amazing assistance from skipper Sean Hannon, still unable to bowl because of his shoulder problems in the summer season, but taking a catch and THREE stumpings for a four-victim tribute to his keeping skills!
 
There was a wicket apiece for Jack John, McDermott-Jenkins, Murray and Korey Arran and one could only feel sorry for Herbie as they lost by 61 runs - but because some of their key players are unable to play on Mondays it means they cannot compete at the same level as last year - but deserve every credit for battling on and fulfilling the fixture!