Pembroke County Cricket League
Llechryd still going strong..
Division 2
Haverfordwest 2nds 149 for 7 (6) drew with Llechryd 206 for 6 (28)
Llechryd showed that they are far from being a one man show after they produced an impressive all round team effort to get the better of Haverfordwest 2nds on the weekend. The title chasers had to settle for winning draw in the end but they were able to pick up the full 28 points to keep them firmly on course for a tilt at promotion.
For once their run machine and skipper John Curran failed with the bat when he played on with just eight to his name but there were plenty of runs to come after his dismissal and his team posted a decent score of 206.
After losing the toss Curran and James Betterley were sent out to bat and despite a steady start Curran was bowled early doors but Jonny Lewis and Betterley started the rebuild and got the scoreboard ticking over nicely with both playing some lovely shots and running well between the wickets.
before he got out
Lewis was the first to get out when he missed a full toss from spin bowler Lewis Rhead and he was followed by James Betterley who was batting fantastically, but a charge down the wicket saw him miss the ball and the keeper claimed his stumps on 39 when looking set for a big score. Two new batsman in the shape of teenager Joe Mansfield and experienced left hander Steve Smith got to work and both played superbly well, crossing the boundary ropes at every quarter of the ground and they soon got the score into three figures.
Smith who reached his 50 in good time looked set for a much bigger score until he was bowled by James Marchant (2-22) but Mansfield got his head down and made a brilliant 42 before he was caught off the bowling of Evans Watts (2-27) but by this time the damage was done.
Rhys Beard came to the wicket late on and smashed some impressive shots including one huge six to get his team to 206-6 off 45 overs.
Llechryd who have several local footballers amongst their ranks came storming out after tea looking to wrap things up well in time for the Champions League final and Curran (2-33) and Beard (1-22) soon made inroads but it was the performance of Betterley (3-29) that really stood out and the hosts were in deep trouble at 84-5 with Betterley doing most of the damage. Lewis and Graham Keen also bowled very tightly giving little away and Haverfordwest ended on 149-7 with all rounder Evans Watts carving out a gritty innings of 34 to take his team to a position of respectability.