Pembrokeshire power through to under 15s regional cup final

 

 

Venue: Pentyrch Cricket Club

 

Pembrokeshire’s talented under 15 crickets are through to the Wales National Regional U15's Final after an outstanding victory against a powerful Cardiff and the Vale team where they bowled and fielded really well before tea and then produced an excellent batting display which saw them home by five wickets with seven overs in hand.

 

Having recently returned from a successful county tour of Cheltenham & Staffordshire, the team were in good spirits and keen to continue their good form shown in the last few games since they were up against opponents to whom they lost last year in the semi-final and who had only lost one regional fixture in the last four years.

 

 

On a slightly damp wicket, Pembrokeshire won the toss and put Cardiff into bat before an inspired opening spell of bowling by Greg Thompson (1-12) and George Williams (2-16), aided by three excellent catches from Kurtis Marsh, Jacob Knox and Geraint Jones got them off to a good start.  This, together with a splendid run out by Thomas Pritchard (aided by wicket keeper Dafydd Bevan), saw Cardiff reeling at 28-4 off 12 overs. 

 

However, Jamie Mills and Jac Harding dug in for Cardiff and despite some tight bowling from Thomas Pritchard, Jack Parkinson, Kurtis Marsh and Jacob Knox, they advanced the score to 124 without further loss in the 37^th over.  It was Geraint Jones (1-19) that bowled Hardman (37) and with Scott Jones (1-30) being economic at the other end, kept the score down in the latter overs. 

 

 

It was only Jamie Mills (99 not out, including six fours) and Jac Hardman that reached double figures for Cardiff & The Vale.  Jamie narrowly missed out on a deserved century, but credit to the Pembrokeshire bowling, which kept things tight, aided by some astute field positioning and groundwork, which starved him of the strike.  In the late quest for runs, Greg Thompson ended up with 2-24 and George Williams claimed 3-40.

 

 

Pembrokeshire openers Tomos Lewis and  Kurtis Marsh started off well, before Lewis was bowled for 32 by J Berry, with some good straight shots to mid-on and mid-off.  Marsh was back to his old form as he anchored the innings, being particularly harsh on anything short, despatching it to the mid-wicket boundary.  Dafydd Bevan continued his good form from the tour and 83 runs against Gwent, making 24 before he was caught behind down the leg-side showing the spirit of cricket and ‘walking’ on a difficult decision. Cardiff changed their bowlers regularly seeking wickets they needed.

Despite this, Pembrokeshire reached 91-2 off 23 overs.  Scott Jones used his experience to tick the score over with Marsh, as Pembrokeshire advanced to 152 in 36 overs at drinks.  The drinks interval took its toll as in the next over Marsh was caught for 54 (five fours) and Pembrokeshire lost another wicket the next ball.  Jones departed for 41 (five fours and a six), being particularly harsh on any short pitched bowling, with the score at 174-5.  It was left to Greg Thompson (28 not out) to seal the victory for Pembrokeshire in the 43^rd over, to the delight of the Pembrokeshire team and their parents on the boundary, as the main wicket taker for Cardiff was Morgan Crimm (3-15).

It was an excellent victory for the Pembrokeshire Team against a strong opposition and shows the all-round development of the whole team throughout the last few years.  They now play Gwent in the Welsh Regional Finals on August 30^th at Ynysangharad Park, the home of Pontypridd C.C.