Division One Cricket Reports 8th June 2013

Steve Inward is back with a bang

Llangwm (228 for 8) beat St Ishmaels (180 all out)

Umpires: Trefor Evans & Huw Davies

Scorers: Janice Brick & Wendy Bradshaw

Steve Inward helped Llangwm to a maximum-points win over St Ishmaels at Pill Parks as he scored an undefeated century and also picked up two wickets alongside older brother Chris.

The return from ‘up the line’ of Steve Inward had been eagerly anticipated and he arrived at the crease with Llangwm looking shaky on 7 for 2 before he and James Venables set about steadying the innings.

Venables eventually departed for 17 and Inward then found support from Richard Brock (six fours in his 43) against useful bowling by Johnny Pawlett (5 for 43), Andrew Pawlett (2 for 65), Andrew Williams (1 for 39) and Tish skipper Andrew Palmer, who bowled well without any luck.

But as wickets fell at the other end, Inward provided a master-class of shot selection, timing and power as he sped past the three-figure mark and ended up on a superb 132 all out that contained 15 fours and six big sixes in an innings that will long be remembered by those privileged to watch it.

St Ishmaels deserve credit for batting positively as they sought to reach their target, with good innings from Andrew Williams (61, including eight fours), Andrew Palmer (six fours in his 46) and 16 year old Daniel Richards (21), But Ollie Davies spearheaded the Llangwm attack with 4 for 21 alongside a wicket apiece for Andrew Harries and Richard Brock – and Tish were dismissed after 41.5 overs to give Llangwm a much-needed win to help them climb up the section table.

Steve Inward salutes his century at Llangwm

Picture Joseph Kiff

Steve Inward hits a boundary on his way to 132 not out for Llangwm

Bellerby leads Neyland to vital victory

Carew (225 for 9) lost to Neyland (228 for 7)

Umpires: Les Hastings & Dai Morris

Scorers: Ceri Davies & John Laugharne

Neyland confirmed their status as league leaders as they travelled to current champions Carew and came away with a three-wicket win that owed much to the late batting exploits of Patrick Bellerby.

He joined the fray with Neyland having lost wickets as Carew applied pressure but he smashed 11 fours and a six in his 63 before he was finally caught and bowled by Tom Davies with just two runs needed.

Tim Hicks had earlier led the Carew batting with a traditionally hard-hitting 64 that included seven fours and two big sixes, with support from Ian Sefton’s 39 (four boundaries and two sixes), plus a late 43 not out from Rhys Davies which provided vital impulsion to the innings as he blasted two fours and four big sixes.

For Neyland, Andrew Miller’s canny slow stuff earned him figures of 4 for 61 alongside Nathan Banner (2 for 46) and Patrick Hannon (2 for 58).

Ashley Sutton (50, including six fours) and Andrew Miller (nine fours in 51) were the other principal Neyland run-makers against Rhys Davies (2 for 52), with a wicket apiece for James Hinchliffe, Lewis Hicks, Tim Hicks and Martin Scourfield in the Carew cause.

Andrew Miller - four wickets for Neyland

Runs galore as Hughes and Adams set up Narberth win

Narberth (311 for 2) beat Lawrenny (249 all out)

Umpires: Richard Merriman & Rob Cousins

Scorers: Peter Hughes & Malcolm Thomas

There were again runs galore at the Lewis Lloyd as centuries from Marc Hughes and Ritchie Adams helped Narberth to 311 for 2 and Lawrenny bravely gave chase before being dismissed for 249 runs.

The Narberth innings left local pundits querying whether there had been a bigger score in division one or indeed a higher opening partnership than the 256 scored by Marc Hughes and Ritchie Adams, who maintained his recent run of fine form with 17 fours and two sixes in his undefeated innings of 126 to go with his undefeated century two weeks previous.

Hughes showed what a destructive batsman he is as he blitzed 17 fours and five big sixes in his superb 155 before he was finally caught by keeper Hugh Griffiths off Jamie Lewis’s bowling. Rob Williams also claimed a late wicket for a shell-shocked Lawrenny, who went in to tea with the daunting task of chasing such a mammoth score.

Brad McDermott-Jenkins blitzed five fours and four sixes in his 55 and Steve Lewis also contributed 55 runs that included ten fours and a six as Lawrenny sought quick runs, ably assisted by Johnny Mathias (31) and Phil Cole (31 not out) but Ben Hughes (2 for 44) and Ian Hughes 4 for 45) completed a good day for the Hughes family, whilst Matthew Johns claimed 2 for 32 and there was a wicket apiece for Ben and Kyle Quartermaine in an entertaining Narberth win.

Marc Hughes en route to his splendid 155 for Narberth

Cresselly cruise to Racecourse win

Haverfordwest (121 all out) lost to Cresselly (122 for 2)

Umpires: Rob Bellerby & Dave Brandon

Scorers: Jayne Cole & Dave Richards

Cresselly cruised to an eight-wicket victory over a Haverfordwest side which paid the inevitable price for having several key players absent through injury or holiday commitments.

Put in to bat first The Town made a solid start with an opening partnership of 52 from David Haynes (28) and Adam Raymond (20) but from then on only Nitin Mathias (13) and Nigel Morgan (14) managed double figures against the bowling of Bobby Webb (3 for 25), Stefan Jenkins (3 for 28) and Ryan Lewis (3 for 24).

Cresselly openers Matthew Morgan and skipper Phil Williams then got their team off to a good start as they sped to 60 in 12 overs, aided by several dropped catches by The Town slip cordon. Williams eventually departed for 36, including six fours, after giving a catch to keeper George Thomas off Avron Roulstone’s bowling, and Morgan followed after rapping ten boundaries in his 55 but then giving a return catch to his delighted father Nigel, who bowled well for his 1 for 25 analysis.

Andrew Harris finished the match off with an undefeated 24 in the Cresselly cause to give them a deserved win and the chance to move nicely up the table as their reward!

Matthew Morgan takes evasive action as he top scores with 55 for Cresselly

Stefan stars for Whitland

Whitland (290 for 4) beat Llanrhian (181 all out)

Umpires: Dave Loosmore & Mervyn John

Scorer: Janice Webb

Talented teenager Stefan James was the toast of his Whitland team-mates as he showed why he was a Welsh international in his age group with a splendid century to help his side to a huge score – and then two wickets to help them clean up by 109 runs.

Whitland made a good start to their innings through Dylan Blain (6 fours in his 47) and Ed John (who clearly doesn’t like running on such a hot day as his brisk 52 included ten fours and a six).

Hopes of a break through by Llanrhian were quickly quelled by Paul Davies and Stefan James, the former stroking nine fours in his 61 and James, who hit 13 boundaries and two big sixes in his imperious 105 before he was bowled by Jack Jones from the penultimate ball of Whitland’s 45 overs. Jack Jones (1 for 61), Gareth Davies (2 for 48) and Nigel Delaney (1 for 50) were the only wicket-takers for Llanrhian as they prepared to give chase to such a big target.

Llanrhian lost key batsman Gareth Davies early but they deserve every credit for giving chase through Ben Jones (56), Nigel Delaney (34), Luke Jones (16) and Ian Jenkins (14 not out). But good bowling by David Dunfee (3 for 21), Mark Lee (2 for 28), Johnny Thomas (2 for 47) and man of the match James (2 for 25) eventually ended their quest and earned Whitland a maximum haul of 30 points.