COUNTY CRICKET ROUND-UP

Friday, 31 July 2009

By David Gibbs

Division One
 
An emphatic nine wickets win at Carew at Haverfordwest has crushed Haverfordwest’s dreams of retaining the Division One title for a second successive season.
It looks now as if the championship race will be a two horse affair between Carew and Cresselly and the two clubs are due to meet at Cresselly in the penultimate league game of the season on Saturday, August 22.
At Haverfordwest, the Carew bowlers exploited the conditions and apart from a fighting innings of 31no by Adam James the Town batsmen had little to offer in a total of 75 all out.
Ian Sefton used the new ball cleverly to finish with figures of 4-23, supported by skipper Rob Scourfield who took 3-16 and Rhys Davies with 2-19.
An opening stand of 64 by Ian Sefton and Nick Scourfield ruled out any further surprises. Sefton was bowled by Clive Tucker after scoring 38 but Scourfield was 22no at the end of the game as Carew reached 76 for the loss of one wicket.
Cresselly also won by nine wickets, but chased a larger total as the visitors St. Ishmaels were bowled out for 141.
Three Tish batsmen got into the 30s, but did not progress any further. Left hander Philip Cockburn finished on 36no, opener Stewart Kimpton scored 33 and all-rounder Andrew Williams had a patient knock of 30.
Wickets clattered as Tish tried to increase the tempo.  The spinners picked up the spoils as Ryan Lewis took 4-44 and Simon Cole 2-31.
Opener Andrew Harris had a quick fire innings of 32 before being run out and then an unbroken second wicket partnership of 100 between James Venables with 43no and Simon Cole with 44no took Cresselly to a total of 143-1.
Hook slipped into the relegation zone after losing by 10 wickets away to Neyland. The visitors were bowled out for 93 with three wickets falling to Phil Davies, two to Henry Durant and two to Andrew Miller despite the efforts of Mick Haltam with 35.
Paul Murray finished on 64no in a Neyland total of 94 for no wicket.
Narberth picked up their fifth win of the season despite being bowled out for 102. Skipper Richard Adams with 25 and Kyle Quartermaine with 23 were the pick of the Narberth batsmen as Chris Inward took 3-12 and Andrew Brock 3-30.
Ben Quartermaine, Ian Hughes and Kyle Quartermaine ripped the guts out of the Llangwm innings and the visitors were bowled out for 61. Ben Quartermaine took 4-7, his brother Kyle 3-11 and left arm seamer Ian Hughes 3-13.
A first wicket partnership of 81 between Brad Jenkins with 58 and Andrew Cole with 39 set up a Lawrenny total of 189-8 away to Whitland.  Jenkins hit eight fours and two sixes in his innings of 58 and Cole scored 39. In addition, there were useful knocks of 26 by James Buckle and 24 by James Phillips.
David Lee took 4-22 for Whitland and Iestyn Scourfield 3-28.
Whitland started badly in response and were 3-3, but Steve Fraser with 46 and Edward John with 30 staged a partial recovery in a fourth wicket stand of 80.
More wickets fell and it was left to Paul Webb and Carl Smith to play out the closing three overs.
James Buckle finished with figures of 4-28.
  
Division Two
 
Carew Seconds lost by 80 runs at home to Pembroke and have lost their perch on the top of the table as a result. The Pembroke innings of 134 was dominated by Colin Kaijaks in an individual score of 72 as Aled Davies took 5-36, his son Tom 3-10 and James Hinchcliffe 3-2.
James Hinchcliffe top scored for Carew with 10 as the home team were bowled out for the lowly total of 54. Skipper Nigel Phillips took 4-9 for the visitors and another experienced player Gwyn Griffiths finished on 3-15.
Saundersfoot kept their promotion hopes alive with a 52 runs win away to Johnston after scoring 186-8. The stylish Paul Mansbridge finished on 81 and Nick Cope had an aggressive knock of 42 with two sixes and five fours.
Steve Jenkins took 3-45 for Johnston who were bowled out for 134 in reply.
Ritchie Davies scored 38, Chris Fitzpatrick 28 and Chris Goodridge 22. The three players were prevented from scoring further runs as Yannick Parker took 4-29, Danny Caine 3-35 and David Parcell 3-38.
A high scoring match at Burton ended in a draw with Burton on 185-7 in response to a Cresselly Seconds total of 230-8.
Nick Davies had a superb innings of 114 for the Cresselly team supported by another young player Scott Arthur with 57.
Steve Jones and John Griffiths each picked up three wickets for Burton.
Chris Campbell led the victory bid in a fine innings of 73 but the next highest scorer was Richard Hayman on 30.
Cresselly skipper Richard Arthur did most of the damage with the ball and ended with a return of 4-25.
In other Division Two matches, Haverfordwest Seconds won by six wickets away to Stackpole who were bowled out for 118.
At Herbrandston, the visitors Fishguard were dismissed for just 32 in reply to a Herbie total of 121.
 
Division Three
 
Pembroke Dock have taken over the leadership of Division Three after cruising to victory at home to promotion rivals Crymych.
Skipper Nick Daley led by example in his innings of 72 supported by Julian Edwards with 32 and John Davies with 20.
Spinner Murray Briggs took 4-53 for the visitors who were bowled out for the surprisingly low total of 45, although it must be said that a number of key batsmen were missing.
John Camani took 5-25 and Jamie White 3-15, while Rhys Davies top scored for Crymych with 13.
Llechryd have moved up to seventh position in the table with a surprise win at home to Whitland Seconds who were held to 100-9. Owain Evans scored 31 and Stuart Harris 20 as James Heneker took 3-20 and Matthew Fraser 3-21.
Llechryd reached a winning total of 101-4 after 28 overs. Josh Ward top scored on 47 backed up by Matthew Fraser on 27no.
For the visitors, Dan Newton took 2-23.
Llanrhian are in third position after a six wickets win away to Hundleton who scored 166-7.
Liam Williams led the way with 36, Steve Williams chipped in with 34 and Jonathan Williams scored 29.
Dafydd Charles took 2-19 for the visitors who reached 167-4 in reply as Ben Jones scored 51 and Geraint Morris 49. Riaan Strydom took 2-25.
Lamphey held on to a draw at 115-9 away to Camrose and Spittal who had scored 126-6.
Matthew Williams top scored for the Camrose and Spittal team with 28 backed up by Gareth Loveridge with 23.
A first wicket partnership of 51 between Robert Mathias and Hywel Gibbs gave the visitors a good start in reply, but when Gibbs fell, it triggered a procession of batsmen to the pavilion as Darren Osborne took 3-31 and David Morgan 3-33.
Rob Mathias was the main contributor to the Lamphey total with 42.
St. Ishmaels Seconds reached 140-5 at home to Narberth Seconds who won by five wickets with a total in reply of 143-5.
Opener Robbie Thomas scored 69 for the Tish team before being bowled by Mike Williams and Paul Palmer backed up with 42 as Ben Hughes took 4-41.
The visitors who were a player short were in trouble at 37-3, but a sixth wicket partnership of 56 between Ben Hughes with 48no and Mike Williams with 24no gave the Narberth team victory. Joel Davies also batted well for his 31.
Ryan Rees took 3-37 and Keith Pawlett 2-18 for St. Ishmaels Seconds.
 
Division Four
 
Kilgetty lost by five wickets at home to Johnston Seconds who reached 121-5 chasing a Kilgetty total of 120 all out.
Steve Flook top scored for the Kilgetty team with 33 as Nathan James took 4-23 and Steve James 3-21.
Steve James scored 31 and Liam James 36 in their opening stand of 59 before both fell to Anthony Bevan who finished with figures of 3-32.
Lawrenny Seconds were bowled out for 76 after the visitors Neyland Seconds had scored 142-6. Chris Gohpakis scored 31 in support of a fine innings of 39 by Paul Miller and Andrew Hansen also had a useful knock of 25.
All-rounder John Fuller was the pick of the Lawrenny bowlers with 4-28. When Lawrenny Seconds replied, the batsmen could not get going. An innings of 22 by Chris Buckle was the highest individual score in a total of 76 all out as a collective effort in the field plus a return of 2-8 by Ian Charles and 2-12 by Peter Burton guaranteed victory for the visitors.  
Pembroke Seconds lost by eight wickets at home to Herbrandston Seconds who scored 102-2 chasing a Pembroke total of 101 all out.
Paul Nicholas did the bulk of the damage for Herbie with 7-35 supported by Johnnie Lewis with 2-15 as left hander Hugh Davies was 33no and Paul Rogers 23 for the Pembroke team.
When Herbie replied, Gavin Rowland with 49no and Martin Langdon with 26 were the main run getters for the visitors.
 
Division Five
 
Division Five leaders Carew Thirds had a four wickets win at home to Llangwm Thirds after scoring 139-6 in reply to a total of 136 posted by the visitors.
Ashley Britton scored 57 and Filgi Varghese 21 as Kerry Waters took 4-27 for Carew Thirds.
Jeremy Griffiths top scored for the Carew team with 36 supported by Mark Hicks with 19 and his two sons, Luke and Lewis, with 15 and 20 respectively. Haydn Shapcott also chipped in with 15.
Lyn Rees was the pick of the Llangwm bowlers with 3-13.
Llanrhian Seconds reached a total of 139-9 at home to Whitland Thirds. R. V. Jones top scored with 54, backed up by Russell Watkins with 49.
Gwynne Phillips took 5-10 in 12 tight overs for the visitors who were bowled out for 80 in reply. Mitchell Rees had a fighting innings of 25 as David Hamilton took 6-35 for promotion candidates Llanrhian Seconds.
Saundersfoot Seconds were bowled out for a disappointing total of 61 by the visitors Camrose and Spittal Seconds.  Chris Parker did his best to stave off the inevitable with 13no as wickets were shared out amongst the Camrose and Spittal bowlers.
Martyn Tweedie scored 34no as the visitors won by eight wickets on a total of 62-2.
Third placed St. Florence were bowled out for 103 by the visitors Llechryd Seconds after the Llechryd skipper Ian Carter had won a toss for the first time since June 2008.
For the Saints, Ben McDonnell scored 36 and Peter Hall 20 as 13-year-old Michael Carter took 6-29 with his left arm Chinamen backed up by John Quinney with 3-28.
Although skipper Ian Carter scored 21, his opposing number Tommy Roberts tore the batting line to shreds with 6-24 and the visitors were bowled out for 99 to lose by four runs.
 
Division Six
 
Fishguard Seconds built up a huge total of 214-6 at home to Hundleton Seconds who were bowled out for 40 in reply.
Darren John scored 43 for the Fishguard team and Paul Edwards took 2-23 for the visitors and also top scored with 10 as Kevin Bowen ripped through the batting line with his 6-7 spell.
In a low scoring match at Llanddewi Velfrey, Narberth Thirds were dismissed for 92 by the visitors Pembroke Dock Seconds.
Owen Richards scored 20 for Narberth Thirds supported by Jordan Williams and Sam Mills who both scored 15.
Andrew Wood took 4-30 for the visitors and Steve Alford 3-21.
Andrew Wood also held things together at the end with 70no to take the Dock team to 84-9 to secure a draw.
Jordan Howell, Huw Simpkins, Owen Richards and Tim Mills each picked up two wickets for the home team.