Pembroke County Cricket
Division 2
Haverfordwest 2nds 222 for 3 beat Llechryd 220 for 5 by 7 wickets
Talented Llechryd all rounder John Curran produced one of the best knocks of his career with an unbeaten century but his team suffered another narrow defeat and relegation still looms.
Curran who came in at number three hit ten 4’s and three 6’s and reached the magic three figures in the final over.
There were runs aplenty at the Racecourse as an innings of 93 not out from Ross Dewstowe eventually steered the hosts to a victory with two overs to spare.
Llechryd were asked to bat and Kevin Evans who made an impressive return after a six year absence added 34 in an opening partnership of 60 with veteran Dewi Davies, and Evans a former goal keeper in the Costcutter League with Cardigan Town soon got into his stride.
Davies who looked well set on 51, was then forced to retire hurt but Llechryd posted a very competitive 220 for 5 – with Chris Phillips (3 for 35) and Clive Tucker (1 for 39) the best home bowlers.
Evan Watts (29) and skipper Phillips (36) got the Town reply off to a positive start, but they were struggling on 92 for 3 as veteran Pete Betterley (1 for 50), Rhys Beard (1 for 23) and Michael Godfrey (1 for 37) took wickets.
But then came an unbroken stand of 130 between Dewstowe and skipper Nigel Morgan, with the former cracking 13 fours and three sixes to finish just seven runs short of a century.
Morgan meanwhile made 41 not out, with five fours and a six, as Haverfordwest sneaked a win to leave the Teifisiders just 17 points off the drop zone..
Division 3
Llechryd 2nds 183 all out beat Narberth 2nds 135 all out by 48 runs
Llechryd 2nds went into this match with a strengthened side and hopeful of a positive result and they were rewarded following a fine all round team effort.
The wicket at the RDM Oval was wet after many hours of light rain earlier in the day and this was always going to be a challenge for both sides as they adapted to a wet and drying wicket, which is something of a rarity this season.
Llechryd lost the toss and were put in to bat and youngster Tomos Davies returning from a foot injury got Llechryd off to a flying start scoring a rapid 40 runs before pulling at a ball that did not get up. The middle order though failed to push home the advantage which Davies had given with both Andrew Fletcher and Trefor Boston- Williams falling in quick succession, accompanied as is often the case by a slowing of the run rate.
Skipper Ollie Roberts acted as anchor during the innings and was joined at this point by Peter Gregory who reasserted some dominance over the Narberth attack with a characteristically aggressive 35, including a few shots back past the bowler which put bowler, umpire and non striking batsmen in danger as the ball whistled past their ears!
After Roberts (74) and Greg (35) were dismissed the Llechryd tail was unable to see out the remaining over with the innings ending at 183 all out and Narberth having two extra overs in which to chase the runs.
For Narberth Richard Howell returned figures of 3-21, bowling economically, and Nathan Lloyd 3-43.
The visitors run chase was steady and just about up with the run rate for the first 20 overs, with a strange stalemate feel setting in on the game with Narberth not able to get ahead of the rate and Llechryd unable to break through the top order.
This persisted until Gregory entered the fray with his mix of faster and slower balls and excellent line and length and he made the initial breach in the visitors resistance and he was well backed by Nick North with some extra pace and they blasted through the Narberth middle order. Chris Spratt with 71 was the top scorer for the visitors.
Peter Gregory returned figures of 3-27 and there were three wickets for North with 3-23. Scot Thomas also kept up the pressure, returning figures of 2-35 including the crucial wicket of one of the opening batsmen and Andrew Fletcher also bowled economically but without any luck.
The annual Llechryd 6-A-Side Family Cricket Festival takes place this coming Saturday July 28th from 11am at the RDM Oval.
There is no league action this Saturday.