Pembroke County Cricket Club Division One: Cresselly (170-9) lost to Neyland (172-6) by 4 wickets

Only four points now separate the top three following Neyland’s four wicket win at Cresselly on Saturday.

Unlike recent weeks, Sean Hannon opted to field after winning the toss but it paid dividends, as Dan Sutton (10) spooned a catch to Nathan Banner off Henry Durrant early on.

And Banner then took a big wicket as he forced Dan Cherry (1) into playing on, and then had Adam Chandler lbw for 16.

Iwan Izzard (11) broke the shackles with a straight six but he too was caught by Banner off Durrant - and that same combination struck a third time to dismiss Cresselly captain Neilson Cole.

That left Cresselly 43-5 which later became 109-8 despite a hard hitting 23 (four fours) from Alex Bayley - but they were given hope by No 5 Simon ‘snowy’ Cole.

He found help from tail enders Mike Shaw (12) and Tom Arthur, who made just 2 in a last wicket stand of 38, with Cole finishing unbeaten on 77 (11 fours).

As usual, Paul Murray got the Neyland reply off to a quick start, cracking six fours in his 29 but then edged one to Neilson Cole off Dan James.

Fellow opener Koomen looked comfortable in hitting two sixes and a four but was then caught by Simon Cole off Cherry for 25, and Ashley Sutton added 38 (seven fours and a six) before Izzard snaffled one off Arthur’s bowling.

Still at 127-3 Neyland were in the driving seat before Shaw ran out Andrew Miller for 37 (five fours) to give his side hope, and an injured Banner was lbw to Ryan Lewis for a duck.

Paul Miller (10) was also caught by Izzard off Shaw as the visitors stumbled in sight of the finish - but No 5 Henry Durrant held firm with 20 not out (three fours), and he was joined by skipper Hannon (4 not out) in getting the job done on the 43rd over.

The win keeps Neyland third, but now just three points off Cresselly, and four points off new leaders Haverfordwest.

Cresselly innings:

Dan Sutton ct Nathan Banner b Henry Durant 10

Adam Chandler lbw b Nathan Banner 16

Dan Cherry b Nathan Banner 1

Iwan Izzard ct Nathan Banner b Henry Durant 11

Simon Cole not out 77

Neilson Cole ct Nathan Banner b Henry Durant 1

Alex Bayley b Andrew Miller 23

Ryan Lewis run out (Geraint Rees) 0

Dan James ct Ashley Sutton b Andrew Miller 2

Mike Shaw ct Sean Hannon b Nicholas Koomen 12

Tom Arthur 2 not out

Extras: 15.

Total: 170 for 9.

Overs: 45.

Bowling: Nathan Banner 12-0-33-2; Henry Durrant 12-2-38- 3; Andrew Miller 11-0-41-2; Geraint Rees 7-0-21-0; Nicholas Koomen 3-0-25-1.

Neyland innings:

Paul Murray ct Neilson Cole b Dan James 29

Nicholas Koomen ct Simon Cole b Dan Cherry 25

Andrew Miller run out (Mike Shaw) 37

Ashley Sutton ct Iwan Izzard b Tom Arthur 38

Henry Durant not out 20

Nathan Banner lbw b Ryan Lewis 0

Paul Miller ct Iwan Izzard b Mike Shaw 10

Sean Hannon not out 4

Extras: 8.

Total: 172 for 6.

Overs: 42.2.

Bowling: Dan James 7-2-22-1-0; Ryan Lewis 12-1-47-1; Mike Shaw 12-2-42-1; Dan Cherry 4-0-23-1; Tom Arthur 5-1-21-1; Iwan Izzard 2.2-1-10-0.

Umpires: Steve Blowes and Dave Brandon.

Scorers: John Laugharne and Teagan Cartwright.