NEYLAND A again showed why they are the top indoor league team in local cricket as they proved far too strong for Haverfordwest and smashed a makeshift Cresselly team by a massive 120 runs in the first week of this season’s competition. Cresselly also lost by 96 runs to Haverfordwest to complete a day to forget for the south county village side.

Match One:

Haverfordwest (34 all out) lost to Neyland A (38 for 3)

HAVERFORDWEST were asked to bat first against Neyland A and were soon in deep trouble as the champions bowled and fielded well. Chris Phillips was run out by Sean Hannon and from then on only opener Ben Field ever looked likely to score runs until he was eventually out for 16 as he edged a Patrick Bellerby delivery to keeper Paul Murray.

Bellerby, drafted in as replacement for injured Neyland skipper Gregg Miller, showed his prowess with a 3 for 7 haul alongside Sean Hannon’s 2 for 4 as Haverfordwest collapsed to a disappointing 34 all out in only 6.2 overs.

Neyland also lost early wickets as Bellerby top scored with 10 runs but with the Hannon twins running well and Sean striking a final four when the scores were level, Neyland strolled home in exactly the same number of balls faced as their opponents!

Match Two:

Haverfordwest (127 for 3) beat Cresselly (31 all out)

HAVERFORDWEST batted first again when they took on a very inexperienced Cresselly side for whom only Nick Davies, Tom Arthur and Luke Cole were regulars.

Ben Field and talented teenager Kieran O’Connor both rattled up 25 before having to retire, as did Dan Potter. Josh Hicks hit 19 before he was run out and with 25 extras to add on The Town finished on 127 for 3.

It was always going to be too big a target for Cresselly as Matthew and Johnny Palmer joined Tom Arthur in departing for a single, with Luke Cole contributing six runs before Ian Perridge (10) and Nick Davies (9) took their team to 31 and defeat by 96 runs.

Match Three:

Neyland A (150 for 2) beat Cresselly (30 all out)

NEYLAND’S powerful batting line-up had a field day against Cresselly as they rattled up a massive 150 for 2 in their allotted ten overs.

Nick Koomen and Patrick Bellerby scored 25 before retiring and opener Paul Murray not only did the same but still had time when other Neyland wickets fell to return to the crease. (Like Andrew Miller trying his own version of the Dilshan scoop shot and getting out to the battling Luke Cole!)

Murray smashed an undefeated 52 which contained six fours, a six and seven threes as the Hannon boys again chipped in with double figures to boost the total.

Luke Cole top scored for Cresselly with 13 runs but no-one else was able to manage anything like double figures and they were shot out for 30 in 6.3 overs

Nick Koomen topped the bowling with a 3 for 6 haul, supported by Bellerby, Sean and Patrick Hannon, leaving supporters to ponder over whether this was the biggest win in local indoor cricket.

Venue: The Meads Leisure Centre, Milford Haven

Umpires: Allan Hansen, assisted by John Sheppard

Scorer: Kirsty Hughes