Brilliant Lewis guides Lawrenny home (From Western Telegraph)

Brilliant Lewis guides Lawrenny home

Lawrenny (178 for 7) beat Pembroke (177 for 9) Umpires: Hilliard Davies and Trefor Evans Scorers: Malcolm Thomas and Matthew Mitchell

Another superb batting display by Steve Lewis eased Lawrenny to victory over a Pembroke side which did well to reach 177 for 9 after being asked to bat first.

It seemed a total that might see them gain the better of the result until Lewis strode to the crease - and then the big-hitting batsman launched three huge sixes over the fence, struck 12 fours and took only 69 balls to make 83 before he was bowled by young spinner Paul White.

It shifted the balance of play to Lawrennys favour and with Ian Jenkins again doing well in support the homesters reached their target with three wickets and overs to spare.

Pembroke are still without key players and lost ace run-gatherer Mark Fraser early on, bowled by Rob Williams. But Hugh Davies and Craig Nutty rallied well in a stand of 76 before Nutty fell to the ubiquitous Lewis for 35 (seven fours).

Davies top scored with 44 before he was caught at square leg by skipper Williams off James Buckle, who proceeded to give all the Pembroke batsmen problems as he claimed a smashing 6 for 29 analysis. Nigel Phillips chipped in with a cheeky 25 but no-one else was able to make an impact against Buckle and it was left to last pair Kevin Jenkins and Keith Johnson to steer the visitors to 177 for 9.

Jenkins then had Adi Harries caught by Nutty for 15 and bowled Steve Cole for a duck - and when Gwyn Griffiths grabbed the key wicket of Chris Vincent it meant that Lawrenny looked less than convincing on 40 for 3. A stand of 50 between Buckle and Lewis redressed the balance, however, and when Buckle departed to Phillips, again caught by Nutty, there was no respite as Lewis went to town and Ian Jenkins played a clever support role with an unbeaten 34 that was also decisive when Lawrenny gave a little stutter as Lewis went with the score on 166 and skipper Griffiths came back for Pembroke to remove both Andrew Coles for ducks a run later.

Jenkins had three fours and a six in his carefully-crafted knock - and Christian Phillips joined him in applying the coup de grace to Pembrokes hopes of a late reprieve.