County trio help Wales over 40s to victory at Stourport

Worcestershire Over 40s (276 for 9) lost to Wales Over 40s (294 all out) by 18 runs

Three well-known Pembrokeshire Cricketers certainly carried the county’s flag in style last week as they represented Wales Over 40s against their counterparts from Worcestershire in the English Counties Competition for their age group.

Richard Mackay has always played his cricket for 25 years at Stackpole so he has never played in the top echelon but would have been welcomed by clubs playing at the higher level but stayed loyal to his village team - and showed his undoubted ability with a match-winning bowling spell on a terrific batting track at Stourport Cricket Club which was described as ‘like a runway’ because it was so flat.

Tish cousins make an impact

He was joined by a top brace from St Ishmaels in cousins Jonathan and Andrew Pawlett, with the former all-rounder scoring an excellent half century as Wales set a target of 295 to win - and then the latter bowled his canny left-arm slow stuff to claim the first home wicket of Ryan Evans after they had raced to 91 without loss.

Jonathan Pawlett batted at No 3 and arrived at the crease with Wales also close to a three-figure opening stand which he helped build on as he rasped five fours and a six in a typically aggressive knock of 50 before he was bowled going for another boundary.

Richard and Andrew batted respectively at Nos 4 and 7 but didn’t make much impact (although Andrew did belt two big sixes in his score of 14!)) but soon got involved after tea in the bowling stakes.

Andrew strikes – and Richard finishes things off in style

Andrew finally broke up a big home partnership between Gareth Berry and Ryan Evans - but Worcestershire still looked favourites until Richard was finally thrown the ball as the sixth bowler to be used.

“I could see it was no use trying to bawl pace on such a flat track,” Richard told PembrokeshireSport.co.uk “and so I decided it might pay dividends if I mixed things up with cutters, slower deliveries and even a few from the back of my hand.”

The ploy certainly worked because although he conceded 60 runs he finished up with a six-wicket haul as reward for his enterprise and ability to judge what was needed.

“I had one lbw decision, clean bowled three and had two caught by Jonathan on the long-on boundary and we tried to convince our team mates in the bar afterwards that it was all part of a carefully-laid Pembrokeshire plan!”

And finally . . .

So now the next challenge for Richard and Jonathan is an even bigger challenge next Tuesday as they make the long journey to Colwyn Bay, in North Wales, to represent Wales in a full international against England Over 40s so whatever the outcome they will return with a coveted cap.

Sadly, Andrew has just missed out on selection for this match because Wales have so many other spin bowlers already established in the Welsh squad - but he knows he is close to making it three local players in the team and if he can maintain his form in the Counties competition it is only a matter of time before he joins the other two.

Pembrokeshire Cricket will surely join us at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk in congratulating Richard, Jonathan and Andrew on their success at such a high level and we will be providing more details of their very tough tussle against an immensely strong England team next week!