Phillips guides Town to win (From Western Telegraph)

Phillips guides Town to win

Whitland (123 all out) lost to Haverfordwest (188 for 6) Umpires: Tony Scourfield and Peter Perry Scorers: Rob Webb and Jayne Cole

Steve Phillips was the toast of his Haverfordwest colleagues as his all-round performance inspired The Town to an easy win against Whitland, a success which keeps them in second spot but also maintains pressure on Whitland in the relegation battle. Phillips blasted 41 not from only 22 balls to help his side achieve a good total and then he came on with Whitland looking likely to gain a draw at 104 for 3 and wiped out their inexperienced tail with five wickets in 14 balls to finish with 5 for 8 after off-spinner Clive Tucker had done the earlier damage with a 4 for 10 haul from 12 miserly overs.

Steve's older brother Andrew had given Haverfordwest a solid start of 70 with Jonathan Twigg, having scored 43 runs, including six fours. Webb winkled out Karl Rhead, Phil Kirkby, Dai Davies and Paul Luke to finish with impressive figures of 5 for 31 in 12 overs, Mark Lee also bowling well to remove Twigg for 36 (four fours) in his spell at the other end.

But Whitland were rocked back as Steve Phillips rapped two sixes and two fours in facing only 22 balls, adding 57 with Matthew Johns, who also drove a big straight six in his unbeaten 15. It meant that they found themselves needing 189 runs to win and Clive Tucker served notice of intent as his first three overs were maidens.

Webb and Dave Lee still managed 17 apiece before falling to Tucker and Whitland suffered a major blow when top-scorer Paul Davies was run out for 33 after Nick Davies had also been removed by Tucker for a duck thanks to s second good catch by Dai Davies.

Daniel Griffiths also looked in good form with 31 until he became Tucker's fourth wicket as Paul Luke held the catch - and then Steve Phillips intervened to send Whitland into a downward spiral as he clean bowled all five victims to give his side maximum points in their pursuit of Carew at the top of the table.