Coles class shines through (From Western Telegraph)

Coles class shines through

Lawrenny (190 for 7) beat Whitland (189 for 8) Umpires: Alan Hansen and Tony Davies Scorers: Malcolm Thomas and Richard Merriman

A typically blistering innings of 63 from Andrew Cole (junior) helped Lawrenny maintain their climb up the table at the expense of a youthful Whitland side which had looked assured of more points at one stage when the homesters stood at 89 for 5 and still needed another 101 runs for victory.

But then the big hitter known as Little Cole to differentiate him from the older batsman of the same name in the side, blasted four sixes and five fours as he reached his 50 in 26 balls and raced to 63 from 35 deliveries before he finally holed out to Huw Bevan off Matthew Davies down by the fly-gate fence - with the game all but won by then.

Whitland had made a good start after being asked to bat by home skipper Rob Williams, with opposing captain Paul Webb and Dave Lee putting on 43 before Lee touched a lifter from Steve Rees into Christian Phillips gloves having scored 25.

Paul Davies looked in good nick from the outset and held the innings together after Webb was bowled by Rees for 23 with the score on 65.

Rhyddian Harries was well caught close-in by Ian Jenkins off Steve Lewis but Davies found support from Daniel Griffiths and Colin John before he was finally dismissed by Steve Lewis with eight fours and two sixes to his credit in a classy 62 made from 72 balls.

Mark Lee was run out seeking a risky second run and Matthew Davies had no time to repeat his exploits of the previous week as Rob Williams was the pick of the home bowlers and Steve Rees and Steve Lewis both grabbed three wickets.

Lawrenny made a poor start to their reply as Adam Davies took good catches to get rid of James Buckle and Andrew Cole (senior) - and later stumped Chris Vincent and Simon Cole off Webb to complete a good day with the gloves for the 16-year-old sporting all-rounder - with Webb bowling the dangerous Steve Lewis for a golden duck in his 3 for 38 spell.

Vincent scored 44 (eight fours) and Ian Jenkins (35) helped Little Cole nearer the total - and the coup de grace was applied by Christian Phillips and Rob Williams in a high-scoring match.

WHITLAND P. Webb b S. Rees 23 D. Lee c C. Phillips b S. Rees 25 P. Davies b S. Lewis 62 R. Harries c I. Jenkins b S. Lewis 2 D. Griffiths c&b R. Williams 21 C. John c C. Phillips b S. Rees 13 M. Lee run out 10 M. Davies not out 2 H. Bevan b S. Lewis 2 H. Devonald not out 1 Extras 26 Total (for 8 wkts) 189 Bowling: R. Williams 12-3-26-1; S. Cole 10-0-48-0; S. Rees 12-4-43-3; S. Lewis 12-0-49-3.

LAWRENNY J. Buckle c A. Davies b H. Devonald 1 C. Vincent st A. Davies b P. Webb 44 A. Cole (S) c A. Davies b M. Lee 4 S. Cole st A. Davies b P. Webb 17 S. Lewis b P. Webb 0 I. Jenkins c H. Devonald b M. Davies 35 A. Cole (J) c H. Bevan b M. Davies 63 C. Phillips not out 7 R. Williams not out 5 Extras 14 Total (for 7 wkts) 190 Bowling: H. Devonald 8.2-1-38-1; M. Lee 12-5-39-1; M. Davies 8-0-50-2; P. Webb 11-0-38-3; R. Harries 8-0-13-0.