Indoor Cricket League (Sponsored by Martin James Health Club) Week Four: Neyland hopes of the Indoor League silverware were badly dented at The Meads last Sunday as they suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of Haverfordwest B.

Both sides had already accounted for an inexperienced Pembroke sextet before their showdown left The Town victors by three runs in a cracking finale.

The result was all the more surprising because Neyland had won their two matches in previous weeks while Haverfordwest B had lost both of theirs.

Haverfordwest batted first and their final tally of 118 for 4 was a good one, especially after they had lost Phil Sutton with a sprained wrist. It was perhaps 10 runs fewer than they might have hoped but was still a real target for any team.

It owed a great deal to a sparkling 56 from skipper Karl Rhead, made over two stints at the crease after he had initially retired on 25 and then later returned to stroke two sixes off spinner Phil Davies and two fours.

Rhead received excellent support from Steve Phillips, who finished unbeaten on 33, including ten threes as proof of his speed between the wickets.

Apart from the obligatory run outs in such tight circumstances, Andrew Miller took the only wicket as he bowled promising young keeper Julian James.

Neyland also started their innings well as Paul Murray and Andrew Miller put on 29 for the first wicket before skipper Miller, who had rapped Matthew Johns for successive sixes, departed for 19.

They reached the half-way stage with 57 runs on the board and victory in sight but Haverfordwest used their experience to good effect after Murray had to retire, shifting Phil Davies, Jay Dunsford and Sean Hannon from run outs.

But their demise allowed Murray to rejoin Greg Miller and the pair scampered well between the wickets.

They needed 17 runs off the last over, bowled by Steve Phillips. It was well within their capabilities, Miller had already struck two sixes off Sutton, but Phillips swung the game back into the Town's favour.

He bowled Miller after conceding only six runs from the first three balls.

A single from Miller meant that his side could only win if Phillips bowled several no balls and although Murray belted a straight six from the last ball it mattered little because Haverfordwest were home by three runs.

Neyland had started the afternoon with an easy win over Pembroke, who were asked to bat first and could only manage 42 all out in 5.2 overs.

Patrick Hannon claimed two for 10 and Greg Miller one for 11. Only Matthew Mitchell could muster double figures.

It was never going to trouble Neyland as Patrick Hannon (17) and Greg Miller (12) remained unbeaten after Paul White had bowled Paul Miller to leave Neyland winners on 45 for one in a leisurely 5.2 overs.

Pembroke played much better against Haverfordwest B. They restricted Town to 115 for 4 and managed 92 all out in reply, although it was left to captain Mitchell to mount the challenge.

The skipper scored 48 of them with his customary big hitting which saw him smash six sixes, three of them off the unfortunate Richard Davies.

Last man Martin Fletcher provided support with 21 and Phil Sutton top-scored for The Town with an unbeaten 46.

Matthew Johns supported well with 34 not out and poor old Barry Evans was dispatched for 37 runs from his two overs.

As usual the matches were organised by Wendy Bradshaw and the umpires were John Williams and Alan Hansen

Match One:

Pembroke versus Neyland:

Pembroke Batting: M Mitchell ct G Miller b P Hannon 14 D Scourfield run out 4 P White b P Hannon 8 D Williams run out 9 B Evans run out 0 M Fletcher ct & b G Miller 3 Extras 4 Total (all out) 42 Neyland Bowling: G Miller 1-11; P Hannon 2-10; P Davies 1-15; P Miller 1-6

Neyland Batting: P Hannon not out 17 P Miller b P White 9 G Miller not out 12 Extras 7 Total (1 wicket) 45 Pembroke Bowling: D Scourfield 0-7; M Fletcher 0-3; M Mitchell 0-7; P White 1-17; B Evans 0-9 Match Two:

Haverfordwest 'B' versus Pembroke

Haverfordwest 'B' batting: K Rhead ct D Scourfield b D Williams 2 P Sutton not out 46 S Phillips ct & b M Fletcher 17 M Johns not out 34 R Davies ct B Evans b M Fletcher 7 J James ct M Mitchell b P White 5 Pembroke Bowling: D Scourfield 0-18; M Fletcher 2-20; D Williams 1-21; P White 1-18; B Evans 0-37

Pembroke Batting: M Mitchell b M Johns 48 D Scourfield run out 1 B Evans ct S Phillips b P Sutton 4 P White b K Rhead 6 D Williams run out 9 M Fletcher run out 21 Extras 2 Total (all out) 92 Haverfordwest 'B' Bowling: M Johns 1-20; S Phillips 0-12; R Davies 0-30; P Sutton 1-14; K Rhead 1-16

Match Three:

Haverfordwest 'B' v Neyland

Haverfordwest 'B' Batting: K Rhead run out 56 P Sutton retired hurt 3 S Phillips not out 33 M Johns run out 14 R Davies run out 0 J James b A Miller 4 Extras 8 Total (4 wickets) 118 Neyland Bowling: G Miller 0-21; P Murray 0-23; A Miller 1-26; J Dunsford 0-15; P Davies 0-32

Neyland Batting: P Murray not out 39 A Miller ct S Phillips b K Rhead 19 G Miller b S Phillips 26 P Davies run out 1 J Dunsford run out 15 S Hannon run out 8 Extras 7 Total (5 wickets) 115 Haverfordwest 'B' Bowling: P Sutton 0-17; M Johns 0-24; K Rhead 1-25; R Davies 0-26; S Phillips 0-23.