With the County AGM just around the corner, cricketers have already started looking forward to the 2007 season and at the same time having a retrospective glance at the 2006 season. Whitland skipper Paul Webb has once again prepared some interesting statistics about Division One performances last season by clubs and individual players.

Matches played

Of the 90 scheduled matches, 10 did not get underway and six were abandoned. Of the 74 matches played to a conclusion, 59 were won and the remaining 15 were drawn. In percentage terms, this means that 79.72 per cent of matches were won or lost by the participating clubs. In 14 of the 15 drawn matches, the runs differential between the two teams was within 70, 11 of the matches were within 60 runs and 11 also within 50 runs. Only seven matches were within 40 runs, two within 30 runs, also two within 20 runs and only one within 10 runs.

Most runs scored and most wickets taken

A list of the aggregate number of runs scored and wickets taken by each team has been prepared and it is interesting to compare these lists with the final league tables. Carew scored the most runs and took most wickets, but finished runners-up in the league behind Division One champions Haverfordwest, who won four more games. Cresselly won 11 games and finished in third position and were third in the list of wicket-takers, but sixth in the list of highest run scorers. There is a common perception that Cresselly are a strong batting side without any strength in depth in the bowling department, but that is not revealed by the statistics. At the other end of the table, Hook were relegated and Pembroke saved by the skin of their teeth because Haverfordwest Seconds were the Division Two champions. Hook did not win a game last season and were the lowest wicket-takers with a total of 51, but finished eighth in the list of run scorers.

Highest Scoring Grounds

Which is the highest scoring round in the county? Most cricketers have firm views on which is the best batting ground, but what were the facts from last season? The table reveals that last season the Whitland ground topped the table with an aggregate of 2,751 runs with an average aggregate of 305 runs per match. The Cresselly ground was second with an aggregate of 2,665, but had the highest average aggregate of 333 per match. Neyland was in third place, just 20 runs behind the Cresselly total, and also had the third highest average of 311 runs per match. The lowest scoring ground last season was Narberth, with an aggregate of 1,678 runs, a total of 101 runs less than Pembroke. In looking at the list of highest scoring grounds, regard must be had to the nature of the soil, as some grounds are wetter than others. Also some clubs have better equipment than others for covering the pitch and the square.

Grounds where most wickets were taken

Neyland topped the list with a total of 137 wickets, followed by Whitland with 128 and St. Ishmaels with 119. Only 80 wickets were taken at Pembroke, 85 at Carew and 100 at both Narberth and Haverfordwest.

Highest Score by each team

Whitland topped the list with a highest score of 255 for 1, followed closely by Lawrenny with 254 all out and Haverfordwest with a total of 252 for 2. All teams had at least one total of over 200, apart from Pembroke with a highest total of 183 for 9.

List of lowest scores by each team

Eight of the teams in Division One were bowled out for under 100 at least once last season, apart from Carew, with a lowest total of 168 all out, and Lawrenny, with a lowest total of 106 all out. Pembroke registered the lowest total of all Division One clubs, with 27 all out, followed by St. Ishmaels with a total of 49 all out and Neyland with a total of 52 all out.

The tell-tale statistics

Most runs scored: 1. Carew, 2,705; 2 Haverfordwest, 2,485; 3. Lawrenny, 2,451; 4. Whitland, 2,336; 5. St. Ishmaels, 2,275; 6. Cresselly, 2,220; 7. Neyland, 2,133; 8. Hook, 2,076; 9. Narberth, 1,816; 10. Pembroke, 1,744. Most wickets taken: 1. Carew, 140; 2. Haverfordwest, 136; 3. Cresselly, 132; 4. St. Ishmaels, 123; 5. Neyland, 117; 6. Whitland, 109; 7. Narberth, 103; 8. Lawrenny, 100; 9. Pembroke, 65; 10. Hook, 51. Highest score: 1. Whitland, 255-1; 2. Lawrenny, 254 all out; 3. Haverfordwest, 252-2; 4. Cresselly, 248-7; 5. Carew, 243-3; 6. Narberth, 239-3; 7. Hook, 231 all out; 8. St. Ishmaels, 230-3; 9.Neyland, 228-4; 10. Pembroke, 183-9. Lowest score in a completed innings: 1. Pembroke, 27; 2. St. Ishmaels, 49; 3. Neyland, 52; 4. Haverfordwest, 65; 5. Hook, 65; 6. Cresselly, 69; 7. Narberth, 81; 8. Whitland, 97; 9. Lawrenny, 106; 10. Carew 168. Most runs at home ground (average per match in brackets): 1. Whitland, 2,751 (305) - games played 9; 2 Cresselly, 2,665 (333) - 8; 3. Neyland, 2,645 (311) - 8.5; 4. Carew, 2,335 (291) - 8; 5. Haverfordwest, 2,287 (269) - 7.5; 6. Lawrenny, 2,219 (296) - 7.5; 7. St. Ishmaels, 2,199 (275) - 8; 8. Hook, 2,049 (256) - 8; 9. Pembroke, 1,779 (296) - 6; 10. Narberth, 1,678 (240) - 7. Most wickets at home ground (average per match in brackets): 1. Neyland, 137 (15) - games played 8.5; 2. Whitland, 128 (14) - 9; 3. St. Ishmaels, 119 (15) - 8; 4. Cresselly 113 (14) - 8; 5. Lawrenny, 106 (15) - 7.5; 6. Hook, 105 (13) - 8; 7. Haverfordwest, 100 (13) - 7.5; 8. Narberth, 100 (14) - 7; 9. Carew, 85 (11) - 8; 10. Pembroke, 80 (13) - 6.