Pembroke CCC (150 for 4) beat Valero (116 for 9) by 34 runs

 

Venue: Carew Cricket Club
Umpires: Chris Stapleton and Stephen Williams
Pembroke CCC Kit Sponsor: Wendy and Tom Davies & Family

This year sees the 60^th anniversary of the presence of the Valero refinery in Pembrokeshire. As part of the celebrations Valero recently took on a young Pembroke County team in a high quality entertaining T20 fixture at a sun blessed Carew Cricket Club.

Valero had sought a fixture against a county side with senior selector Richard Merriman seeing a good opportunity with the support of the youth coaches, to build on the success of the County Youth squad and field a young team.
 

County openers set the tone

Charlie Arthur skippered the young county side against a Valero team not short of talent, further bolstered by the late inclusion of in-form Hook skipper Aled Phelps. Arthur won the toss, elected to bat and opened the innings with George Smith.

These two were initially watchful against the tight bowling of Aled Phelps and Jonny Pawlett but soon started to build momentum. Both batters looked to exploit the power play, hitting several excellent boundaries. Dean John entered the attack but Arthur was in determined mood, striking three big sixes over the clubhouse. These two took the score to 52 with a big total looking likely.





 

Spin stalls the county’s momentum

As is so often the case in modern T20 cricket it was the spin bowlers who changed the momentum of the game. Toby Asson broke the partnership by removing Arthur with a smart caught and bowled. Asson finished with excellent figures of 3 for 14 and along with Hywel Gibbs (1 for 27) reduced the county to 77 for 4 in the 13^th over.

Asson also picked up the wickets of Smith and Wil Nicholas, courtesy of good catches in the deep from Jack Harries, with Gibbs having Will Allen smartly stumped by Jack Evans. With only seven and a half overs remaining Valero had grabbed the initiative and fancied their chances of restricting the county to a modest total.
 

Ethan and Seth make their mark

However, Valero had not banked on the batting of Ethan Hall and Seth Willington, who put together a superb partnership of 73 from 45 balls to take the county to a very challenging total of 150 for 4. These two ran well between the wickets putting pressure on the fielders, regularly turning singles into two runs. They also punished any loose deliveries to really put the Valero attack on the back foot.

Hall blazed his way to 42 not out, including four boundaries and two big sixes, with Willington adding three boundaries and a six in his 32 not out. Hall finished the innings in style with a big six over midwicket to the obvious delight of his teammates.
 

Valero stutter early on but maintain the run rate

Valero openers Jamie Phelps and Jack Harries were faced with scoreboard pressure from the outset and the early loss of Phelps didn’t help matters. However, Pawlett joined Harries and these two classy attacking batters quickly took the score along to 41. Charlie Malloy (2 for 18) then clean bowled Pawlett having also grabbed the wicket of Phelps in another excellent spell of pace bowling alongside the equally impressive Cian Rees.

Rhys Phelps joined the attack and removed Alex Frearson in a controlled spell. At the other end Finley Lewis then grabbed the prize wicket of Harries taking a smart return catch. Harries departed for a classy hard-hitting 34, including three big sixes, leaving Valero at 58 for 4 and the momentum clearly with the county youngsters.
 

Asson and Evans fightback in vain

If the county boys thought the job was done they were mistaken as Asson and Evans came together to take the score to 93 in good time. These two put real pressure on the fielders and hit several boundaries to all parts. They also maintained the required run rate giving Valero a sniff of victory.

Enter Arthur and Owen Phelps, who between them settled the outcome in a combined spell which saw Valero slip from 93 for 4 to 100 for 9. Phelps removed Evans and John with Arthur adding the scalps of Asson and Gibbs. To make matters worse for Valero poor Lucian Thornton was then run out without facing a ball thanks to a bullet return from Arthur, Allen whipping the bails off to finish the job. Despite some late runs from Aled Phelps and Stephen Thornton the game was done with the young county team taking a well-deserved victory.


 

Final thoughts

This was cricket at its best. Sunshine, an excellent pitch, quality players, family battles, smiles all round and a great spirit. Stephen Thornton of Valero thanked everyone involved for their part in an entertaining evening, not least Carew CC for providing an excellent venue and of course umpires Chris and Steve for supporting the fixture.

Richard Merriman, Immediate Past Chair of Pembroke CCC then presented the Valero Cup to county skipper Charlie Arthur, who was also chosen as Player of the Match for his all-round performance.

As for the County team, this comprised players who had represented the County Youth over the past three years, some now too old with others available again next season. Once again, it was clear for all to see the enjoyment these young players and regular cricketing adversaries took from playing together, not to mention the admiration expressed about their talent. This was the driver for coach Jon Willington in re-establishing a County Youth team several years ago. Jon will now step back and hand the reins over to Steve Lewis, who came onboard this season and who will no doubt do a great job going forward.

Pembroke CCC: Charlie Arthur (C) (Cresselly), Will Allen (WK) (Lawrenny), Charlie Malloy (Herbrandston), Cian Rees (Whitland), Ethan Hall (Carew), Finley Lewis (Lawrenny), George Smith (Pembroke Dock), Owen Phelps (Hook), Rhys Phelps (Hook), Seth Willington (Hook), Will Nicholas (Lawrenny)

Valero: Jamie Phelps (C), Jack Evans (WK), Hywel Gibbs, Dean John, Jack Harries, Alex Frearson, Jonny Pawlett, Lucian Thornton, Toby Asson, Stephen Thornton, Aled Phelps
 

Scorecard:

 
Pembrokeshire
George Smith c Jack Harries b Toby Asson 25
Charlie Arthur c&b Toby Asson 35
Will Nicholas  c Jack Harries b Toby Asson 3
Seth Willington not out 32
Will Allen st Jack Evans b Hywel Gibbs 7
Ethan Hall not out 42
Extras 6
Total: 150 for 4
 
Bowling: Aled Phelps 3-0-20-0; Jonny Pawlett 4-0-28-0; Dean John 4-0-30-0; Toby Asson 3-0-14-3; Hywel Gibbs 3-0-27-1; Lucian Thornton 3-0-29-0
 
Valero:
Jamie Phelps c Finley Lewis b Charlie Malloy 7
Jack Harries c & b Finley Lewis 34
Jonny Pawlett b Charlie Malloy 5
Alex Frearson b Rhys Phelps 9
Toby Asson b Charlie Arthur 17
Jack Evans c Charlie Arthur b Owen Phelps 13
Dean John b Owen Phelps 4
Aled Phelps not out 14
Hywel Gibbs b Charlie Arthur 0
Lucian Thornton run out (Charlie Arthur/Will Allen) 0
Stephen Thornton not out 3
Extras 10
Total: 116 for 9
 
Bowling: Cian Rees 3-0-23-0; Charlie Malloy 3-0-18-2; Rhys Phelps 3-0-20-1; Finley Lewis 3-0-17-1; Charlie Arthur 4-1-15-2; Owen Phelps 4-0-19-2