Last pair dent Carews hopes (From Western Telegraph)

Last pair dent Carews hopes

Carew (181 for 6) drew with Narberth (134 for 9)

Umpires: Ronnie Morse and Alan Hansen Scorers: Martin Scourfield and Gwyneth Johns

A last wicket stand by Narberth youngsters Danny James and James Devonald produced few runs but used up the last 17 balls of their allotted 45 overs against Carew and ensured a battling draw which further dented Carews hopes of gaining the league title, while helping keep alive their own hopes of avoiding the big drop.

Wicket-keeper Devonald faced 11 of the balls as Carew tried desperately to wrest away the final wicket that would see them home.

Carew made an uncharacteristically shaky start as they lost opener James Owen from the second ball of the match, beautifully caught at first slip by Henry Wilson off Ian Hughes left-arm stuff without a run on the board - and they lurched to 27 for 3 as Hughes had Robert Hicks caught by wicket-keeper James Devonald for 15 and Tim Hicks was again well caught at slip by Wilson off Hughes for only four runs.

But Nicky Scourfield has anchored the innings well all season and he did it again as Ian Sefton strode to the crease and blasted three sixes and five fours in a 50 made from only 44 balls.

They took the score to 108, the second fifty coming in only seven overs - but as soon as he reached the half century mark Sefton tried another big hit off Matthew Johns and was well caught on the long-on boundary by Danny James.

Hughes claimed his third wicket as he took a good return catch to shift Steve Cole for 16 and Aled Davies chipped in with 17 before he was well caught by Michael Scale to give Matthew Johns his second victim. But Narberth were unable to remove the redoubtable Nicky Scourfield, who had only two boundaries as he carried his bat for 64 - but made sure that Carew reached a healthy 181 for 6 in their 45 overs.

Narberth lost early wickets as Darren Thomas claimed three wickets and James Owen removed Henry Wilson at the other end - but Davy Johns stood firm with a stylish 66 that included eight fours and a six as further wickets fell around him.

Wayne Howells also contributed 23 but became one of Aled Davies three victims in quick succession, the other two neatly stumped by Barry Ansell before spinner John Canton took wicket number nine with the aid of a Thomas catch.

It set up a tense finale where the Narberth last pair stood firm to earn draw points that could prove vital at the end of the season.

CAREW J. Owen c H. Wilson b I. Hughes 0 N. Scourfield not out 64 R. Hicks c J. Devonald b I. Hughes 15 T. Hicks c H. Wilson b W. Howells 4 I. Sefton c D. James b Ma Johns 50 S. Cole c&b I. Hughes 16 A. Davies c M. Scale b Ma Johns 17 R. Scourfield not out 0 Extras 15 Total (for 6 wkts) 181

Bowling: I. Hughes 12-3-37-3; W. Howells 12-4-43-1; G. Martin 5-2-21-0; D. Johns 7-1-24-0; Ma Johns 9-1-41-2.

NARBERTH H. Wilson b J. Owen 11 Mi Johns c B. Ansell b D. Thomas 6 D. Johns b J. Canton 66 M. Hughes lbw b D. Thomas 2 M. Scale b D. Thomas 0 W. Howells c&b A. Davies 23 G. Martin st B. Ansell b A. Davies 2 Ma Johns st B. Ansell b A. Davies 5 D. James not out 7 I. Hughes c D. Thomas b J. Canton 0 J. Devonald not out 0 Extras 12 Total (for 9 wkts) 134

Bowling: D. Thomas 11-6-25-3; J. Owen 12-2-31-1; . Scourfield 5-1-31-1; J. Canton 10-2-35-2; A. Davies 7-2-24-3.