Carew close to sealing Pembroke League triumph

THE sound of popping champagne corks should be heard in Carew before long as the Pembroke County Cricket League division one crown looks to be heading their way.

With three games left, Carew are sitting pretty at the top of the table, 52 points clear of Neyland following an eight-wicket win against Lawrenny.

It would now seem that only a couple of freak results would see them be denied and with the form the likes of Nic Scourfield and Adam Chandler are in indicates that isn’t likely to happen.

The two batsmen blasted 62 and 72 not out respectively as Carew overhauled Lawrenny’s respectable 175-9 with time to spare.

Second-placed Neyland did all they could to keep up with the leaders, winning by four wickets at St Ishmaels thanks to Andrew Miller’s unbeaten 73 as the visitors replied to the hosts’ 184-6 which included a half-century for Andrew Palmer.

Whitland beat Haverfordwest by three wickets to leapfrog their opponents and move up to third in the table. Simon Holiday’s 64 not out took Haverfordwest to 164-7 as Jonathan Thomas took 3-33.

Replying, it wasn’t all plain sailing for Whitland and they had a few nervy moments at the crease but Thomas (33), David Dunfee (39) and Steffan James (39) got them over the line for a fifth win of the campaign.

Elsewhere, Andrew Harries smashed 91 for Llangwm as they made an imposing 223-9 at home to bottom club Saundersfoot. And no doubting who provided the bowling performance of the day as Ollie Davies took five wickets for five runs as the away side was skittled out for 72.

Welsh Cup quarter-finalists Cresselly boosted their hopes of avoiding the drop with a six-wicket victory over Narberth. Ryan Lewis (4-24) helped dismiss Narberth for 133 before an unbeaten 66 from Julian Arthur secured he win.

Llanrhian, Lamphey, Camrose & Spittal, Lawrenny seconds and Stackpole seconds are the top sides in divisions two to six respectively.

Arguably the best batting display of the weekend came in division two where Danny Potter of Haverfordwest seconds hit an undefeated 117 against Whitland seconds.