Paul Webb is perhaps best known locally as a cricketer with Whitland, an outstanding chairman of the Pembroke County Cricket Club, and a cricketing ‘anorak’ who with his wife Janice produced fascinating statistics from divisions one and two of our local league. – but the 2021 cricketing season has seen him go from strength to strength in his representing Wales in over 60s cricket.
 
During his long time at Whitland, Paul was first team captain for 17 or 18 seasons, a record that is ever likely to be beaten, and was a very reliable right-handed opening batsman and very occasional left-arm slow bowler – but his cricketing career took a dramatic turn during his time when he was chairman of the Pembroke County Cricket Club after three years as vice chairman to Tony Scourfield (Carew).
 
“I regarded it as a great honour and I had wonderful support from Janice as we visited every club in the county on a number of occasions, attended every cup final and as many junior and representative games that I could.
 

Dramatic turn in his cricketing life as he joined Wales' senior side

 
“Of course it meant missing my own cricket but to be honest I thought my best days were behind me – until a chance conversation with Richard Harris, the Cresselly cricketer who captained the Welsh over 60s first team and asked me would I be interested in playing for the newly-formed third XI that had just started up.
 
“It was to be called the Wales A team and played friendlies throughout the campaign – and we won all 12 games as we travelled as far as Wiltshire, Buckinghamshire, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Worcestershire and Warwickshire and also played them at home.
 
“It meant a great deal of travelling because our home games were played at grounds like Usk, Ponthir, Newport Fugitives, Margam and Croesyceiliog but Steve Jones, who has been an outstanding cricketer for Burton and Pembrokeshire, was also in the team so we had great fun since his wife Jean also travelled and we made lots of great friends in our travels.”
 
He did really well with the bat as he scored 363 runs, including three unbeaten half centuries against Wiltshire (77), Worcestershire (58) and Somerset (51), which meant he finished up with an average of 51.85.

 

Promotion to the Wales over 60s second string – and silverware won

 
His performances with the Wales A team saw him earn further recognition as he was chosen for the Welsh Over 60s second eleven, with Neyland’s Lyn Rees already playing as an all-rounder, and made his debut against Somerset at Cowbridge and when he was handed the ball returned splendid figures of 9 overs, 3 maidens, 30 runs and five wickets!
 
“Then we played Kent in the quarter-finals of the England Cricket Seniors 60+ Cup at Usk and I batted at No 6 and scored 27 not out, picked up 1 for14 in my seven-over spell and even managed to take a diving catch in the deep!
 
“Our semi-final against Lancashire in an away game at Middleton meant an overnight stop and I helped restrict Lancs to 125 for 8 with figures of 9-2-14-2 and managed to score the winning runs with a late boundary!”
 
That saw Paul, Lyn and Co take on Surrey in the final; a team that hadn’t lost a game for three years in a match that was played on the famous Dumbleton ground, in Gloucestershire, on a very hot September’s day.
 
“We were asked to bat first and scored 247 for 9 in our 45 overs and I managed 18 before getting run out in the late chase for runs – and I was thrilled to take 3 for 35 in nine overs as we took the silverware by 26 runs!”



 

Finished off with the Welsh over 60s first team

 
Paul finished his Welsh season with selection for the Welsh Over 60s first XI late in the season against an England Select XI over 60s at Great Tew CC in Oxfordshire and for once was in a losing side as they went down by 14 runs but it was a great experience and he although he wasn’t called upon to bowl he scored 24 from his No 7 spot in the batting order.
 
“I played 28 games of cricket for Wales over 60s’ teams, and I know how lucky I am to have the full support of my wife Janice, who has done a great job as scorer at some of the matches.
 
“I also played twice for Pembrokeshire Over 50s and it was great to be involved alongside some cracking cricketers and lovely characters from all around the county – and we hope to play more games next season, all being well.
 
“After missing out on selection for the Wales over 50s I couldn’t imagine I would play so much cricket but it has been a really wonderful season where I have found a new lease of cricketing life, made so many new friends as well as renewing my acquaintanceship with so many older ones.”