Experience pays for Hook (From Western Telegraph)

Experience pays for Hook

Hook (77 for 2) beat Whitland (76 all out) Umpires: Tony Scourfield and Mike Heritage Scorers: Arthur Green and Richard Merriman

The greater experience of the Hook side was very much in evidence as they comfortably beat a comparatively young Whitland side, with skipper Jamie Phelps winning an important toss and asking opposing captain Paul Webb to bat.

Then old hands Andrew Thomas, Keith James and Gary martin grabbed three wickets apiece as Whitland were shot out for 78 before James and Martin saw Hook home after another experienced player in Mick Haltam had given them a good start.

Webb was first to go with the score on 13 as he was bowled by Andrew Thomas, who struck a huge blow when he had talented teenager Rhyddian Harries caught behind by Phelps for a duck so that the unlucky number was doubly so for the visitors.

Paul Davies was caught by Johnnie Palmer off his own bowling from a skier - and when Mike Phillips was bowled by Thomas for a duck they were in a parlous state at 18 for 4.

Thomas finished with 3 for 15 and then James and Gary Martin had three wickets apiece as the pressure built up even further.

Daniel Griffiths and Mark Lee managed double figures but there was no-one who could stay long enough to make sure that Whitland set a challenging target.

Haltam and Phelps made sure that Hook managed a solid start before the latter departed with the score on 17 as he cut a delivery by Mark Lee straight to Daniel Griffiths in the gully.

Haltam and James both gave chances that were downed as Whitland struggled to contain Hook and Haltam had hit five fours in his 35, made from 39 balls, before he was bowled by young Huw Devonald with the score on 56.

Then James and Gary Martin took charge, James striking four boundaries and Martin finishing matters off with a four and six as Hook reached their target from 18 overs and celebrated a vital 27 points as reward for their success.

WHITLAND P. Webb b A. Thomas 2 D. Lee lbw b Ga Martin 24 R. Harries c J. Phelps b A. Thomas 0 P. Davies c&b J. Palmer 2 M. Phillips b A. Thomas 0 D. Griffiths b K. James 12 C. John c M. Haltam b K. James 3 M. Lee c M. Thomas b Ga Martin 14 M. Davies b K. James 1 H. Devonald c K. James b Ga Martin 2 A. Davies not out 4 Extras 12 Total (for 10 wkts) 76 Bowling: J. Palmer 7-1-24-1; A. Thomas 8-2-15-3; K. James 8-0-19-3; Ga Martin 6.3-2-11-3.

HOOK M. Haltam b H. Devonald 35 J. Phelps c D. Griffiths b M. Lee 4 K. James not out 23 Ga Martin not out 12 Extras 3 Total (for 2 wkts) 77 Bowling: M. Lee 6-1-14-1; M. Davies 4-0-21-0; P. Webb 5-0-20-0; H. Devonald 3.4-0-19-1.