Neyland (214 for 5) drew with Cresselly (206 for 9)

OPPONENTS of the draw system in Pembrokeshire Cricket would have done well to see the epic finale at the Athletic Ground after Neyland had done really well to amass a challenging total of 214 for 5 before Cresselly ended up nine runs adrift of victory with their final pair at the crease.

It was epic, nerve-jangling stuff where either side could have won and in the final analysis a draw was the fairest result since neither team really deserved to lose.

Scott John (35) and Nick Koomen (33) gave Neyland a platform after a slow start and then Ashley Sutton maintained his recent superb form with a blistering assault on the Cresselly bowling which saw him race to 98 (five fours and six sixes) in a partnership of 125 with Andrew Miller (four boundaries in his 42 not out).

Three figures seemed likely with two balls left of Tom Murphy’s final over but Sutton was caught on the boundary by Sam Harts to deny Sutton a deserved century as Mike Shaw earned figures of 3 for 46 from his slow stuff.

Nick Koomen (3 for 40) and Patrick Hannon (3 for 32) were the pick of the home bowlers but Cresselly also had their batting heroes in Simon Cole (six fours in his 66) and Iwan Izzard, who helped Cole put on 66 runs for the fourth wicket as he belted eight fours and a six in his 46 runs from only 23 balls. Neilson Cole also chipped in with 26 as Cresselly edged close – but Neyland are bonny fighters and both teams had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Umpires: John Williams & Ian Phillips.

Scorers: John Laugharne & Dave Richards.