Pembroke County Cricket
Division 2
Llechryd 104 all out lost to Carew 250 for 2 by 146 runs
The season looked set to improve for relegation strugglers Llechryd when they were coasting along at 83-0 against champions elect Carew at the RDM Oval. However the departure of John Curran who was trapped leg before proved to be the catalyst for an almighty collapse and his team were eventually all out for just 104.
The league leaders were put into bat by hosts skipper Graham Keen and they soon began to make the opposition sweat in the baking heat with openers Tom Scourfield and Tom Davies laying into the opening bowlers and racing to 70 in the first 12 overs.
The lightning fast outfield ensured that every time a gap in the field was penetrated the ball sped away to the boundary. Llechryd changed tactics to try and stem the flow of runs and decided to try and take the pace off the ball with veteran Peter Betteley, Mike Godfrey and all rounder Curran all bowling well in the middle overs. However with wickets in hand the reigning Division One champions accelerated the rate again in the final ten overs and finished on 250 for 2, with Tom Davies carrying his bat for a splendid knock of 101 which included 11 fours.
The other Carew run getters were Scourfield with 52, Rhys Davies 43 and Shaun Whitfield with 32. Nic North and Mike Godfrey both picked up a wicket.
Facing a challenging but not impossible target, Llechryd needed a positive start and that is exactly what they got as openers Curran and Steve Smith knocked the ball about just as the visitors had done in the previous innings and they raced to 83. However this all changed in the 14th over when Curran who was in commanding form was adjudged lbw with 60 runs to his name. This proved to be the catalyst for another Llechryd batting capitulation as Smith went soon afterwards just as he looked to be on the way to another big score and none of the remaining Llechryd batsmen gave the scorers much trouble as wickets tumbled. The Carew fielding was also impressive as they claimed three run outs.
The home side went from 83 for 0 to 104 all out in super quick fashion as they stumbled to another alarming collapse and one all too familiar this term. Rhys Davies ripped through the heart of the batting and took 4-33 and he was well backed up by Rob Scourfield who took 3-13.
With other results in the division going against them, skipper Keen and his Llechryd side now find themselves in the bottom two and big improvements are needed if they are to survive this season.
Division 3
Neyland 2nds 160 for 5 beat Llechryd 2nds 156 for 7 by 5 wickets
In the battle of the basement Llechryd were beaten by fellow strugglers Neyland 2nds and just like their senior side they are also looking like relegation candidates.
The South Pembrokeshire side won the toss and invited Llechryd to bat and the visitors innings got off to a rapid start but wickets soon began to tumble but skipper and opener Ollie Roberts carried out an admirable job of keeping his head down and the scoreboard ticking over.
Roberts carried his bat for a fine knock of 85 but apart from Peter Gregory who made 11 and Duncan Blackburn who made 14 there was very little support and the Llechryd innings ended on 156-7.
Paul Miller and George Evans picked up two wickets apiece for the hosts.
Neyland chased aggressively from the start with Ben Mathias-Milsom with 41 not out and the combination of William Hughes with 30 and Stephen Murray 24 batting well. The game though was delicately poised at 100-5 after some excellent bowling from Rich Connolly who took 2-36 and Dafydd Davies who also picked up a couple of wickets, brought the visitors back into the contest. Neyland though managed to steer themselves safely through for a comfortable five wicket win.
In division four Crymych were without a game as opponents Saundersfoot were unable to field a side.
