Cole crashes Cresselly hopes (From Western Telegraph)

Cole crashes Cresselly hopes

Cresselly (179 for 8) drew with Carew (260 for 5)

Umpires: Les Hastings and Dave Brandon Scorer: Dave Richards.

Carew moved a step closer to the league title as they gained the better of the draw against near neighbours, and closest rivals, Cresselly.

Having beaten Cresselly in the Harrison-Allen just two evenings earlier, Carew showed the full array of their batting power as they scored an enormous 260 for 5 in 45 overs and taking them to such a score were Tim Hicks and Steve Cole in a late charge that saw them score almost 70 runs in the last five overs.

Hicks hit three sixes on the trot off Mark Harris to reach 29 in eight deliveries and Cole went one better as he belted the last four balls of the innings, off Richard Harris, for 6 to finish with 75 not out.

But the homesters showed their determination as they survived the loss of early wickets to gain the draw, with skipper Richard Harris carrying his bat for an honourable draw, his 71 not out ensuring that Carew still have something to do in winning the silverware again.

Ian Sefton and Nick Scourfield gave Carew their customary good start with respective knocks of 35 and 31 before Simon Wood also chipped in with 32 before he became one of Lyn Richards' scalps in a good 2 for 29 haul from 12 overs.

Phil Jones added 28 and then the Hicks/Cole mayhem started, Cole straight driving Harris into the wind for his first three sixes and then putting the fourth into the hedge near the scorebox.

Cresselly needed a good start if they were to challenge that score but lost Julian Arthur, who chipped a Steve Ive delivery straight to Ian Sefton at mid-on, and ace run gatherer Simon Cole, adjudged lbw to Darren Thomas, who also had Damian Arthur caught by Nick Scourfield.

Lyn Richards showed his wealth of experience as he joined Richard Harris at the crease and they advanced the score from 39 for 4 to 114 before Richards went for 35. Ryan Lewis hit two sixes in a brief stay for 20 runs and although Hicks finished with 3 for 25 alongside skipper Thomas's 3 for 29 in 12 overs, it was Carew who deservedly received the bulk of the draw points as reward for another convincing team display.

Pictured: Carew's Simon Wood plays a defensive push during his innings of 32 on Saturday. PICTURE: Gordon Thomas.