Pembroke power their way to Welsh Finals by Bill Carne

 

Pembroke (136 for 3) beat Hook (78 for 5) by 58 runs

 
Umpires: Chris Stapleton & Neill Crawshaw
Scorer: Ginny Davies
Venue: Neyland Community Hub
 
**All pics by Bill Carne, PembrokeshireSport.co.uk**
 
Pembroke were comfortable victors over Hook in the section play-off to earn a place in the Welsh Finals in Swansea on 2nd February, where they will join Pembrokeshire champions Neyland - a first for the club and the county in the fact that this will be the first time our indoor league will have two entrants at that level.
 
They were far sharper on the night as Hook looked a little lethargic under pressure in the fielding stakes and found it hard-going against Pembroke’s bowlers, alongside excellent fielding led by Sam Davies and Archie Hillier-Wood, as Pembroke made much better use of the new ball, which as usual swung a lot.
 

Pembroke start with conviction

 
Pembroke were asked to bat first and started really well with openers Jack Harries and Luke Butler soon into their stride with their ability to punish any loose deliveries and run well between the wickets to accumulate runs and maintain their momentum.
 
Skipper Harries struck two boundaries before he retired on 27 and Butler followed on 26, having hit one four alongside six threes - but, as so often after a good stand indoors they lost Archie Hillier-Wood first ball as he was caught by Owen Phelps off his big brother Aled to give Hook a little hope.
 

Sam and George maintain the pressure on Hook

 
But Sam Davies and 15-year-old George Morgan built on their careful start to produce an impressive increase in the tempo, with Morgan pushing Davies into a series of threes with some excellent running between the wickets that Hook found hard to counter.
 
Davies also belted two fours and two sixes in his 26 before he also retired, having faced only 17 deliveries, and Morgan showed what a prospect he is as he finished undefeated on 23 from only 15 balls as this pair rocketed Pembroke to their huge final tally that was further enhanced by ‘Mr Extras’ (15) and Connor Davies, who smashed a big six in this 11 before he was bowled by Harry Makepeace from the last ball of their allotted 12 overs, trying to find the back wall again!
 
Skipper Harries had also returned for a short few moments but was run out, having been able to add only three runs.





 

Harries causes chaos with three early Hook wickets

 
Hook knew they needed a speedy start to chase down such a challenging score but after pace man Callum Davies had conceded just one single in his first over it was skipper Harries who struck early as made ace Hook batsman Harry Makepeace play and miss from his first three deliveries and then edge a catch into the welcoming gloves of Luke Butler to leave the opposition on 3 for 1 after two overs.
 
Then the same deadly duo repeated the process to shift Aled Phelps (6) and even worse was to follow as Liam Miller, who had looked really focused for his 15 runs, mistimed a short ball and talented teenager Morgan took a good catch off the wall, stooping low and making a hard chance look easy.
 
This left Harries with fine figures of 3 for 19 from his three overs and then Dam Davies took over, as he had Owen Phelps well caught by Hillier-Wood, who took the catch above his head as it looked as if it might be rewarded with six runs but ended in dismissal.
 
At this stage only George James had looked settled for Hook as his 27 (20 balls) included a four and six – but then he was caught by the ubiquitous Harries to give Sam Davies excellent final figures of 2 for 12 in his three overs.
 
He was ably assisted on the inevitable run in to victory by Morgan, whose same stint conceded only 16 runs as Brad Flood dropped anchor to end on 13 not out from 26 balls.
 
So Pembroke will have the new experience of the Welsh Finals whilst Neyland will join them in the search to be crowned Welsh champions again.
 
It leaves Hook reflecting on what might have been – but they are a very good team on their day and are certainly a team to watch in future years!




 

SCORECARDS:

 
Pembroke Batting:
Jack Harries run out 30
Luke Butler retired 25
Archie Hillier-Wood ct Owen Phelps b Aled Phelps 0
Sam Davies retired 26
George Morgan not out 23
Connor Davies b Harry Makepeace 11
Extras 15
Total (3 wickets) 136
 
Hook Bowling: Owen Phelps 3-0-32-0; Aled Phelps 2-0-21-0; Harry Makepeace 3-0-35-1; Brad Flood 2-0-26-0; George James 1-0-17-0.
 
Hook Batting:
Liam Murray ct George Morgan b Jack Harries 15
Harry Makepeace ct Luke Butler b Jack Harries 0
Aled Phelps ct Luke Butler b Jack Harries 6
George James ct Jack Harries b Sam Davies 27
Owen Phelps ct Archie Hillier-Wood 1
Brad Flood not out 13
Extras 16
Total (5 wickets) 78
 
Pembroke Bowling:
Connor Davies 3-0-28-0; Jack Harries 3-0-19-3; Sam Davies 3-0-12-2; George Morgan 3-0-16-0.