Pembroke County Cricket
Division 2
Llangwm 198 all out drew with Llechryd 160-9
Having bowled runaway leaders Llangwm out for just 198 Llechryd looked on course for a superb win after a positive start but alas some nervy middle order batting forced them to close out the game for a losing draw.
The visitors who remain unbeaten with just two games to go have been the outstanding team this summer and they have steam rollered all before them. This latest result now guarantees them a place in division one next season.
The south Pembrokeshire outfit were put into bat and they posted a total of 198 thanks in the main to a boundary laden 68 by James Venables and he was ably assisted by Will Beresford who made 26, Huw Brock with 21 and Luke Brock with the same score. Veteran left armer Peter Betterly turned in another first rate performance with 3 for 20 and his son James Betterly was also impressive with 3 for 39 whilst Nick North also picked up three wickets.
Classy left hander Steve Smith led the Llechryd run chase with a super knock of 49 and he found a useful partner in Mike Carter who hit 34 and the hosts were handily placed to inflict a first defeat of the season upon Llangwm. However despite the best efforts of Ollie Roberts with 24 and James Betterley with 20 Llechryd lost a succession of cheap wickets with Llangwm skipper Ollie Davies picking up two key wickets for 32 and Matthew Kiff 2 for 19, Phil Llewellyn 3 for 33 and Noah Davies 1 for 30 all chipping in. The last Llechryd pair were forced to see out the game and settle for a draw.
Division 4
Llechryd 2nds 170-5 beat Pembroke 2nds 169-6
Llechryd moved into pole position at the top of the table after they accounted for Pembroke 2nds in an entertaining game that saw talented teen Joe Mansfield bag his first half century for the North Pembrokeshire team.
The visitors fielded first and they were kept very busy as Pembroke took a liking to the bowling with none better than Richard Gwyther who made 49 and he and his team completed their innings at 169-6 after 40 overs.
Mansfield (main picture) led the run chase with a top score of 59 and at the midway point, Llechryd were well on target at 80 without loss. Experienced campaigner Dewi Davies crafted a patient innings of 38 and Peter Gregory added some quick runs late on as his team coasted to victory with three overs to spare.
Crymych 139 -4 beat Narberth 2nds 138-6
A superb innings of 71 from Crymych batsman Richard Thorne helped steer the Preselimen to a well deserved win over promotion rivals Narberth 2nds and with it an outside chance of promotion with just two matches to play.
The Otters posted a total of 138 thanks to the efforts of Alan Williams with 66 not out and Mike Johns who was just a run short of a half century. Andrew Thomas was the pick of the Crymych bowling attack with 3-11 and another to impress was Alan Luke who picked up a couple of wickets.
Thorne with 71 not out and Sam Kurtz with another excellent innings of 44 saw Crymych safely home with just four wickets down.