Holder heads Hook attack (From Western Telegraph)

Holder heads Hook attack

Hook ((167 for 2) beat Cresselly (164 all out) Umpires: Tony Scourfield and Barry Wood Scorers: Arthur Green and Dave Richards

Hook continued their good form as they beat visiting Cresselly by eight wickets, reaching their target of 165 with some ease as ace run-gatherers Jamie Phelps and Alister Platten put on 152 runs together.

But it was the bowling of young medium-pacer Matthew Holder which initially swung the game Hooks way as he came on with Cresselly looking comfortable on 98 for 3 and grabbed five wickets for only 23 runs.

Leading the way for Cresselly was Lyn Richards, back to his rightful opening berth and striking eight fours in his 42 before he became Holders first victim with the aid of a Brennan Lay catch.

Damian Arthur chipped in with 22, Phil Williams 24 and Mark Harris 17 but Gary Martin grabbed 3 for 23 and Holder did the rest.

There was a wicket apiece for Cliff and Keith James and that Cresselly managed a reasonable tally was due to the fact that Hook conceded 39 extras, including five wides from Johnnie Palmers first ball of the match.

Mark Harris gave Cresselly early hope as he had Matthew Rowlands caught at mid-off by Phil Williams for only two runs but hen Platten and Phelps got into their stride, running well between the wickets and punishing the bad ball.

Phelps had the lions share of the strike, scoring his half century off 84 deliveries, and reached 91, with 12 fours and two sixes, before he was caught by Williams at deep mid-on off James Caine with just four runs required.

Platten reached his 50 in 75 balls and carried his bat for a typically canny unbeaten 61 (nine boundaries) and Keith James came in to hit the winning runs as Hook reached their target with 32 balls - and eight wickets - in hand.

CRESSELLY L. Richards c B. Lay b M. Holder 42 P. Luke b C. James 9 D. Arthur c A. Platten b K. James 22 R. Harries lbw b G. Martin 0 P. Williams lbw b M. Holder 24 M. Harris b M. Holder 17 R. Lewis lbw b G. Martin 1 H. Griffiths b G. Martin 8 S. Hart c G. Martin b M. Holder 2 J. Caine not out 0 S. Jenkins c&b M. Holder 0 Extras 39 Total (for 10 wkts) 164 Bowling: J. Palmer 6-2-23-0; C. James 6-1-22-1; K. James 7-1-27-1; G. Martin 11-1-23-3; A. Platten 4-0-19-0; M. Holder 9-0-23-5.

HOOK A. Platten not out 61 M. Rowlands c P. Williams b M. Harris 2 J. Phelps c P. Williams b J. Caine 91 K. James not out 4 Extras 9 Total (for 2 wkts) 167 Bowling: J. Caine 9-2-43-1; M. Harris 9-2-43-1; L. Richards 6-1-21-0; R. Harris 10-3-23-0; R. Lewis 3-1-18-0; A. Jenkins 4.4-1-22-0.