The semi final draw for the Harrison Allen Bowl took place on Sunday (Jul 6) and it has paired recent perennial winners and current Division 1 champions Neyland against Division 2 high fliers, St Ishmaels, to be played at Herbrandston on Tuesday (Jul 14) and last years runner up, Saundersfoot will play another high flying Division 2 side, Narberth at Lawrenny on Tuesday (Jul 15).
Saundersfoot (135-4) reached the semi final stage after a nail biting 1 run victory over Cresselly (133-9) at the King George V field on Wednesday (Jul 3). Jon Mansbridge (36) and his brother Tom (30) led the Seasiders charge with the experienced Nicky Cope also contributing 37 to the total, Doves skipper Tom Arthur taking two wickets with his seam bowling. The response from Cresselly was marshalled with aplomb by Kyle Quartermine, whose 78 brought his side to the cusp of victory, until he was run out in the final throes of an absorbing spectacle. Cope took three wickets with his spinners, with Prashant Gautam entrusted with the final over and he held his nerve to ensure his side reached the semi final stage for the third consecutive year.
Narberth (84-8) recorded a 2 wicket success at their Lewis Lloyd ground on Tuesday (Jul 2) over fellow second division outfit Johnston, who were dismissed for 79, Lewis Jones taking 2-31 with the new ball before Mathew Johns spun the Tigers into surrender with 5-9, all rounder Ryan Williams taking 2-15 with his seam bowling to support his veteran colleague. Leigh Walters stood tall with 26 (3x4) as he marshalled his side to a total to defend after his more exuberant colleagues had fallen cheaply. The response was not without drama as Steve Mills swung into action with the new ball to take 2-14 alongside opening partner Keegan Codd who struck to take 3-28, the game meandering in the gloom until Llew Jones thumped two sixes to steer his side over the line. The first of those match winning strikes in the penultimate over to deep long off was superbly caught by visiting skipper Liam Boswell, but alas his foot over stepped the boundary line and alongside team mate Liam James they sportingly signalled to the umpires for the six runs to count; left hander Jones made sure with his match winning strike with four balls of the innings remaining, as it cleared the houses at mid wicket onto the road, at Spring Gardens.
On the same evening St Ishmaels (145-9) overcame fellow division 2 side, Hook (45ao) at the Recreation game, by 100 runs. Having been invited to bat the Mice fell to 46-3 as Brenna Martin (4-35) and Lewis Miller (2-32) made early inroads before Brennan Devonald struck a brace of sixes and seven boundaries in a 43 ball 48, adding 47 for the fourth wicket with Phil Cockburn (23;2x4), Wales over 40 international Andy Pawlett adding an 11 ball 24 with a brace of sixes and fours, home skipper Aled Phelps returning 1-19 from his allotted six overs.
The Black Diamond response was in dire straits at 14-5 and 35-6, as Devonald claimed the man of the match plaudits with 4-7 before spinners Pawlett (2-16) and Steve Williams (3-6) ended the home side innings in 15 overs. Middle order batsman Owen Phelps was unbeaten on 14 (1x4) and Callum James 10 (1x6) the only batsman to record double digits.
Neyland (46-2) earned the right on Thursday (Jul 3) to play their local rivals after they bowled third division Bosherston & Stackpole out for 34, Haverfordwest County AFC media manager Tom Pritchard taking 3-1 with the new ball, before veterans Andrew Miller (3-8) and former Lilly Alan Webster (2-4) wrapped up the innings. Welsh age group internationals, Webster (11no) and wicketkeeper Gregg Miller (11) saw the ‘All Whites’ safely through.
The semi final matches will be 22 overs a side, with wickets pitched at 6pm. There will be a power play for the first five overs of each innings with a restriction of two fielders allowed outside the 30m circle, from which a team may have a maximum of five players outside the 30m circle at the point of delivery. Bowlers are restricted to a maximum of six overs in the innings and in the vent of the scores being tied, a super over will come into play. The final is scheduled to be played at Cresselly Cricket Club on Saturday (August 30), wickets pitched at noon.
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