Pembroke County Cricket League
Division 2 – Century for Curran
Pembroke Dock 160 for 8 (6) drew with Llechryd 258 for 5 (28)
Llechryd skipper John Curran bagged his third century of the season to keep his team at the top of the division just ahead of main rivals Narberth and the clash between the big two this weekend should be a very intriguing affair.
Curran is not available for this potential title showdown but there is a growing confidence running through the team with several players in top form and despite the absence of Curran the north Pembrokeshire side will travel in a confident mood.
The riversiders were missing a few regulars with Curran forced to draft in a couple of youngsters in the shape of Tomos Davies and thirteen year old Tomos Lewis and the latter enjoyed a fine game by bowling a wicket maiden and picking up a superb catch.
Curran lost the toss on a wet wicket and outfield and was put into bat, but this turned out to be a decision that came back to haunt them as Llechryd went after the batting from the start.
Opener James Betterley smashed two fours in two balls but he then then got himself out for just eight runs but Jonny Lewis and Curran began to build a partnership and battle hard on a tricky wicket with the ball moving off a length and the outfield slow. However some excellent running between the wickets and with the sun drying the outfield, they began to shift the run rate on.
The pair raced to 109-1 off 22 overs at the drinks interval and they pushed on after this with Curran reaching three figures and an innings that included nine 4’s and four huge sixes. Jonny Lewis also punished anything poor and he flew past the half century mark before his skipper was eventually out on 106 with the partnership worth 165. Lewis departed with 64 runs to his name and just six overs remaining. Steve Smith and Tomos Davies finished the innings off with some lovely shots with Smith making 37 and the innings ending on a formidable total of 258-6.
Billy Wood with 2-68 and Nick Daley with 3-45 were the pick of the Pembroke Dock attack.
The Llechryd bowlers started well with Rhys Beard and Curran keeping things very tight, and they picked up some early wickets but all rounder Curran had to take over behind the stumps due to an injury to Tomos Davies but there was plenty of bowling to come.
Pembroke Dock batsman Scott Griffiths (38) and Craig Butland (66) began to apply some pressure and looked to build a decent total, but they were never really up with the run rate and the Dock innings ended on 160-8.
Rhys Beard returned figures of 3-26, his brother Tom 2-30 and both Graham Keen and James Betterley picked up wickets.