Cresselly 2nds beat Carew 2nds by 31 runs

Cresselly 2nds captain Matthew Lewis took 5-16, including a hat trick to finish matters, to lead his side into the Alec Colley Cup final as they beat neighbours Carew at Lawrenny last night.

It was Lewis who had opted to bat on winning the toss and then watched as openers Neal Williams and Mike Venables put on 53 for the opening wicket, the latter making 23 before falling to Kerry Waters (1-32).

Williams went on to hit 35 (five fours) before he was dismissed by Iori Hicks (1-38), but at 70-2 the presence of Simon Cole then proved crucial as the No 3 shared a stand of 66 with Scott Arthur.

Cole top scored with 48 (six fours) before he was eventually clean bowled by Jacob Knox (1-45) and Arthur hit two fours and two big sixes in his 32, his knock ended by former teammate Sean Jenkins (1-34).

Lewis (4 not out) and Stefan Lewis (2 not out) then scrambled late runs as The Doves made 154-4 in 20 overs.

The Carew reply started badly as opener Dai Rees (4) was bowled by Morgan Lewis, but captain Scott Richards and No 3 Robbie Hicks then gave their side hope as they moved the score to 46.

But when Richards (13) was bowled by Cole after two boundaries the tide turned, with the all rounder also claiming the scalps of Morgan Grieve (2) and Haydn Shapcott (0) to take 3-29 leave Carew 55-4.

The crucial wickets of Hicks came when he holed out to Lewis off Lyn Richards having made 33 (four fours), and then it was the Cresselly captain who took over.

He removed Jenkins (12) and had Iori Hicks (5) stumped by keeper Williams, and then from the final two balls of his fourth (17th) over dismissed Barry Evans (20) and trapped Rhys Grigg (0) lbw.

Then with the score on 123-8, with Jacob Knox cracking 27 not out (four fours), it was Lewis who clean bowled Waters from the first ball of the 19th over to grab a hat trick and send his side into the final.

The Doves play the winners of Neyland 2nds and Llangwm 2nds, who meet in Hook on Thursday.