Hook (178) lost to Llechryd (207 for 8) by 29 runs

HALF centuries from John Curran and Rhys Beard saw Llechryd set a challenging target of 207 for 8, before veteran Peter Betteley’s four wickets secured an exciting win by 29 runs at Hook in the Pembrokeshire League division two.

Curran, who had taken over as skipper from Graham Keen, had lost the toss and after being asked to bat first, Llechryd looked in trouble at 18 for 2, with Andrew Fletcher and Dewi Davies both caught for 7.

Beard and Curran, however, got the runs flowing as they added a crucial 106 runs for the third wicket, before Beard was finally bowled by Jamie Phelps for 54, having struck 10 fours.

Steve Smith was run out for nought, but the score had advanced to 141 when Curran was finally bowled by Aled Phelps for 57, which included 7 fours.

The same bowler dismissed Adam Betts for 10, but a good knock from Joe Mansfield took the score beyond the 200 mark, before he was bowled by Bradley Flood for 29, with 4 fours.

Mansfield had enjoyed a good 40-run partnership with Graham Keen, who finished unbeaten on 22 not out, in a knock that included a four and two big sixes.

Flood finished with 2 for 20, and Aled Phelps with 2 for 68, with more economical bowling from Brennan Martin, 0 for 25 from 12 overs, and Callum James, 1 for 5 from his seven overs.

Llechryd’s evergreen bowler Peter Betterley then had early success when he dismissed opener Matthew Holder lbw for nought and had both Jake Wicks caught by Steve Smith for one run.

It became 17 for 4 as Jamie Phelps was caught by John Curran from the bowling of Graham Keen for 0, and Craig Nutty was caught by Smith from Betteley for 16.

Aled Phelps (6) and George James (11) were also sent packing by Betteley and Keen, but Brennan Martin came in at seven and revived the innings.

Good support was provided by William Goronwy as they added 93 for the seventh wicket, before Goronwy was trapped lbw by Andrew Fletcher for 35.

The hard-hitting Martin was finally caught by Dewi Davies from bowler Graham Keen for 73, having hit 5 fours and 5 sixes off 65.

Bradley Flood was run out by Joe Mansfield for 19, with 2 fours and a six, before Hook were finally all out for 178 in the 41st over.

Betteley finished with 4 for 41, with 3 maidens in his 11 overs, and Keen claimed 3 for 40 in his 12 overs.Llechryd II (218 for 5) drew with Lawrenny II (247 for 2)

LLECHRYD Seconds took a draw in their Pembrokeshire League division three match at the RDM Oval, after visitors Lawrenny Seconds had posted 247 for 2.

On a very dry and fast outfield, a high scoring encounter was always going to be likely, and the home reply finished on 218 for 5.

Lawrenny had been invited to bat, and in a well paced innings, with good acceleration in the middle and end overs, runs flowed.

Fourteen year old Daf Davies again showed what a good prospect he is with the ball, bowling 9 overs for 44 and taking one wicket.

He could easily have had a few more wickets, with one catch put down off his bowling, all be it a high ball, falling to deep mid on.

Peter Gregory also took 1 for 57 on a hard hot day for the home bowling attack.

For Lawrenny, Steve Lewis, returning from injury, hit 113 not out and he was well supported by Huw Griffiths with 50 and Alfie Buckle, 57 not out.

The Llechryd response was positive, being up with the run rate for most of the innings, but it failed to quite keep up the scoring in the last 10 overs, ending on very respectable 218 for 5.

Maintaining six runs an over, over 40 overs, was never going to be easy and a few tight overs altered the game in a high run chase.

Both Llechryd openers managed half centuries, with Ben Graham hitting 54 and Ollie Roberts 78, and other significant contributions were made by Alex Smith, with some big hits in his 26, and Peter Gregory, hitting a rapid 29 late on.

The main wicket taker was Luke Cole, with 2 for 35, along with James Buckle, who also bowled economically to claim 1 for 15.