St Ishmaels 2nds beat Haverfordwest 2nds by 5 wickets

An unbroken stand of 38 from Stuart Carpenter and Steve Williams proved decisive as St Ishmaels won a tense encounter with Haverfordwest – sealing a first Alec Colley Cup final in 17 years in the process.

It was a haul of 3-24 from Williams that helped restrict The Town to just 80-5 in 20 overs, and then he and Carpenter kept their cool with the bat as Tish secured victory with just four balls to spare.

Home skipper Robbie Thomas opted to field upon winning the toss and his side struck an early blow through Kevin Bowen, who had Nikhil Mathias caught by Williams.

From 6-1 the visitors steadied matters with a stand of 42 between opener Dan Field and James Marchant, before Carpenter bowled Field for 31 (two fours).

That prompted trouble as in the 14th over, Williams then skittled Ross Dewstowe and Ashley James for ducks, and did the same to Town skipper Nigel Morgan after he’d made 7.

Marchant stood firm to finish 34 not out (one six) but despite difficult conditions, a target of 81 looked gettable for the hosts.

And yet the pendulum swung early in their reply, as Will Phillips removed key men Karl Rhead and Kevin Bowen cheaply, both courtesy of catches from Mathias, and Morgan bowled Danny Flynn to leave the score 16-3.

The away captain proceeded to take 1-3 in his five overs, including three maidens, to keep the pressure on.

Carpenter took his time to settle, but was aided by Ieuan Hawkins who cracked two fours in his 17 before falling to Marchant - who then bowled Steve Hartley first ball to leave Tish 45-5 after 14 overs and still needing 36 to win.

But it was then that Carpenter and Williams began to up the rate, and the former cracked his first boundary of Mathias in the 19th over to help take the score to 77 going into the final over.

And after Marchant bowled a dot first up, it was Carpenter who hammered a six to make 29 not out and finish the job in style – with Williams unbeaten on 11 at the other end.

Scorecard:

Haverfordwest:

Nikhil Mathias ct Steve Williams b Kevin Bowen 1

Dan Field b Stuart Carpenter 31

James Marchant not out 34

Ross Dewstowe b Steve Williams 0

Ashley James b Steve Williams 0

Nigel Morgan b Stev Williams 7

Huw Scriven not out 3

Extras: 4.

Total: 80 for 5 in 20 overs.

Bowling: Kevin Bowen 5-0-12-1; Steve Williams 5-0-24-3; Danny Flynn 5-1-15-0; Stuart Carpenter 5-0-26-1.

St Ishmaels:

Karl Rhead ct Nikhil Mathias b Will Phillips 4

Danny Flynn b Nigel Morgan 2

Kevin Bowen ct Nikhil Mathias b Will Phillips 8

Stuart Carpenter not out 29

Ieuan Hawkins ct George Thomas b James Marchant 17

Steve Hartley b James Marchant 0

Steve Williams not out 11

Extras: 12

Total: 83 for 5 in 19.2 overs.

Bowling: Will Phillips 5-0-16-2; Nigel Morgan 5-3-3-1; Ashley James 3-0-24-0; James Marchant 4.2-0-18-2; Nikhil Mathias 2-0-8-0.

Umpires: Jon Willington and Ian Milsom.

Scorers: Wendy Bradshaw and Natalie Thomas.