Carew (210 for 8) beat Cresselly (207 all out) by 3 runs

 

There was a nerve-jangling conclusion to this local derby as Carew showed their true grit by snatching victory from the very last ball of the final over and left neighbours Cresselly reflecting on the fact that they had somehow conspired to snatch defeat from the very jaws of victory.

 

But this clash of fierce rivals was about much more than just the game itself because both teams came together prior to the start to commemorate the sad death of Cresselly stalwart Dorothy Richards, with the Carew pennant lowered to half-mast during a minute’s silence before Carew skipper Rhys Davies handed over a bouquet of flowers to his opposite number Neilson Cole for the Richards’ family which is so synonymous with cricket in the village ‘up the hill’.

It was a special sporting moment so typical of their rivalry, which was soon under way as Carew batted first and scored a healthy 210 for 8 thanks to Ian Sefton (57), Brian Hall (28), Tom Davies (24), Rhys Davies (25), Nick Scourfield (13) and Shaun Whitfield (27 not out).

For Cresselly, the wicket-takers were Tom Murphy (1 for 41), Harry Thomas (2 for 36), Mike Shaw (3 for 39) and Ryan Lewis (2 for 70)

After tea, Cresselly reached 111 for 5 in 32 overs thanks in the main to Adam Chandler (33) and Simon Cole (19) before a stand of 92 by Brad McDermott-Jenkins (61) and Shaw (42) took their side within easy reach of victory as they needed ten runs off the last two overs with five wickets in hand.

But Tom Davies (4 for 33) and James Hinchliffe (4 for 24) kept plugging away and wickets began to fall as the tension rose, leaving Neilson Cole with the task of needing four runs off the last ball.

It was typical of the spirit of the day that he went for victory but he was caught by opposing captain Rhys Davies – and Carew were winners of a game that will be remembered in both villages for many years to come!

Umpires: Steve Blowes & Les Hastings.

Scorer: Julie Davies.