Narberth's captain Lewis Hough was invited to bat by home skipper Liam Boswell and made runs aplenty on a magnificent track prepared by Steve James and lightning outfield, a credit to the industry of Steve Mills (Snr) and Glenn Murray, to post their seasons highest team score of 324-5. Leading the way for the visitors was Jamie McCormack who rifled a season high individual score of 175 with included twenty-four boundaries and eight maximums. He came to the crease in the first over after Keegan Codd (1-62) had Louie Davies caught by Nick Davies for a duck, where he played second fiddle to Shay Norcross (40; 1x6;5x4) before he fell to a Codd catch off Gary James (1-56) with the scoreboard on 56,
McCormack took his cubs match sponsor the Ivy Bush to heart as he roasted boundaries into the surrounding coppice, in conjunction with Jordan Williams who had to retire hurt with an achilles injury on 27 (6x4), Hough (20; 2x4) before he was bowled by Davies (1-61) and Kieran Williams (33; 3x6;2x4) before he was bowled by the Tigers leader Boswell (2-32). McCormack's magnificent display came to an end on 309-5, via the hands of Codd off Boswell with a ball of the penultimate over remaining, Ryan Williams bashing a brace of boundaries in an unbeaten 10.
Johnston (169-ao) opening batsman Lewys Boswell continued his strong start to the campaign, which included a century against Cresselly II and an unbeaten 33 at Llanrhian last week to be the cornerstone of his sides response, before he was adjudged LBW for 72 (11x4) to the wily Wales Senior international Mathew Johns, whose off spinners bagged him 3-36.
The early inroads were made by the timeless Narberth stalwart Richard Howells (1-19) and Lewis Jones (1-41) as debutant Roshan Aryaz (14; 2x4) and Lee Chenry (10; 1x4) supported Boswell. All- rounder Gary James (41; 3x6;3x4) was a red devil to Johns and his bowling partner Ryan Willimas who seamers returned him a credible 4-49 as the late middle order departed in quick succession before last man Liam James (17no; 1x4) joined his cousin at the crease. The James boys took their side to maximum batting points as a consolation for a tough day at the office before Hough entered the attack for the first time in the late afternoon sunshine to end the innings with a catch from Loui Davies, but the day belonged to McCormack, who was the toast of his top of the table side and the travelling Narberth Barmy Army who will give a whole-hearted welcome to the Lewis Lloyd ground next week to Pembroke who sit just two points behind them, Johnston hosting bottom side Burton II.
St Ishmaels (293-4) returned to winning ways with a 217 run victory at Oatfield Park, where hosts Burton II were dismissed for 76. The visiting scorecard was dominated by Brennan Devonald who crashed nine maximums and fourteen boundaries as he amassed 136 from 89 balls before being bowled by Aled Thomas (3-47) with the score on 252. He had shared a 210 run third wicket partnership with opening batsman Peter Bradshaw (83;7x4) who was run out from the deep square leg boundary going for a second run by opening bowler Harry Owen. Skipper Johnny Pawlett (14; 2x4) came to the crease after winning the toss when Karl Rhead (13;1x4) was the first wicket of the afternoon with the scoreboard on 26. Left handed Charlie Welsch belied his youthfulness to end the innings unbeaten on 24 having struck a brace of sixes and fours in his 15 ball innings.
Home skipper Jack Evans had tried seven bowlers in his sides attempt to check the run flow, to little reward and his afternoon didn't get any better when he became the third wicket of his sides innings to fall on 28, having struck a brace of boundaries in his 10. Opening partner Wil Ridge (16;2x4) was the first to be dismissed to teenage opening bowler Tom Williams (3-22) in the ninth over which was then followed that up two balls later as he dismissed Joe John for a duck, via the safe hands of his father, Steve. Next over Pawlett (1-7) came on as the first change bowler and castled Evans before Williams had Aled Thomas caught by man of the match Devonald, for a duck.
Veteran all rounder Phil Rees (10; 2x4) guided the score to 47 before he became Andy Pawlett's first of his 2-14 analysis for the 'king of spin' who also bowled Harry Owen (6;1x4). Devonald (1-3), Steve Willimas (1-1) and vice-captain Lewis Rhead 2-1 ensured the innings ended in the twenty sixth over, the visitors within striking range of the promotion places in the league table whilst Burton remain in the relegation drop zone.
Pembroke (233-4) defeated hosts Hook (230-9) by 8 wickets with 2 overs remaining to lead the Division 2 table after four games, skipper and opening batsman Jack Harries leading the way having asked Hook to bat before the tea interval, remaining unbeaten on 125 (116 balls; 3x6;20x4). Having lost opening partner Archie Hillier-Wood for a duck, bowled by Brennan Martin (1-40) in the innings first over, he was joined by Gareth Long (37;2x6;3x4) in adding 85 for the second wicket before Long was bowled by teenage seamer Jack Phillips (1-21). Phil Hay (43;1x6;6x4) took up the mantle with his skipper to add 123 for the third wicket before he fell LBW to returning new ball bowler, Callum James (1-29), Hook captain Aled Phelps (1-42) having Luke Butler caught at the wicket by Liam Miller for a duck in the thirty fifth over, but there was no wobble from the visitors as teenager George Morgan remained unbeaten on 9 (1x4) to accompany his skipper in leading his side to victory.
Morgan had earlier taken 3-46 with his spin which slow the Hook middle order run rate, quickie Billy Wood (2-53) one of six bowlers used by Harries in the innings, which had seen Miller (39; 7x4) and Rhys Phelps (17; 3x4) add 42 for the opening wicket. Phelps (33; 6x4) led by example in marshalling his side to 101-, which became 134-5 when George James (17; 1x6;1x4) made the walk back to the pavilion, Phillips striking 51(8x4) in a sixth wicket partnership of 69 with Harry Makepeace (33; 1x6;3x4) before Callum James struck a maximum and a boundary in an unbeaten 14.
Llechryd (90-0) defeated visitors Cresselly II (89ao) at the RDM Ovel by ten wickets in a game which lasted just 39 overs. Skipper Joe Mansfield had asked Cresselly to take first use of the wicket and watched as the Doves fell from 46-1 to 89 all out, Wales Senior international opening batsman Neale Williams top scoring with 28 (4x4), teenager Lewis Mason the only other batsman to record double figures, before he was the second wicket to fall for 19 having gathered four boundaries in his innings. Former Neyland bowler Graham Keen accounted for Mason, the first of his 5-17 return, teenage spinner Jaap Harris supporting in tandem with 3-21, including the key wicket of Williams to leave the visitors 64-5.
Mansfield (45no;1x6;7x4) opened the innings alongside Jac Davies (34no; 4x4) and despite captain Josh Lewis being one of six bowlers, the victory target was reached in the fifteenth over, Llechryd sitting in the second promotion place ahead of their long journey to the Dale Waterway next week, to take on St. Ishmaels.
Bottom of the table Llanrhian (222-7) won the toss at the Gerald Hicks Memorial ground but fell to an eight wicket defeat at the hands of an experienced Carew II team. The Rooks response after tea was led by an opening batsman Nick Scourfield (57) and Ian Sefton (46) before Wales Senior World Cup star Simon Woods saw his side home with an unbeaten 86, Don Harty claiming 2-26 for the travelling Cows.
Opening batsman Jack Jones engraved another century to his name, with 102 as he was the mainstay of his side's efforts, supported by Llion Williams (40). Carew were indebted to the seam bowling of their more youthful seamers, Geroge Waters (2-34) and Jacob Knox (2-40) to keep the innings in check before the timeless Jermey Griffiths spinners snaffled him 2-49 as they head up the hill next week to take on rivals Cresselly II whilst Llanrhian welcome Hook to Llandigigie Fawr.
The league season best of 175 from Jamie McCormack and 4-49 from Ryan Williams set up a 155 run victory for Narberth who posted 325-5 at Johnston.
Brennan Devonald (St Ishmaels) who hit 136
St Ishmaels who recorded a strong victory over Burton II in Divison 2
Narberth v Johnston action shots
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