Pembroke County Cricket Club Division One: Johnston (196-9) drew with Kilgetty (216-4)

IT was a big clash for both sides - and it showed as a rock bottom Johnston team refused to cave in against visitors Kilgetty after they had amassed more than 200 at Glebelands.

Steve James' side went in rock bottom against the team just a place above them, and the 10 points gained represented their best return of the season.

The 20 that Kilgetty notched meanwhile, took them level with Tish in eighth place.

The visitors won the toss and chose to bat, but Johnston started well as the dangerous Ross Hardy (11) went cheaply.

What later turned the tide was a century stand between Tom Lewis, back in the side after rugby commitments with Pembroke RFC, and Dafydd Bevan, who both finished on 78.

The pair scored boundaries at will, with Bevan cracking four fours and five sixes while Lewis hit seven fours and a maximum.

It meant the visitors finished on 216-4, and given Johnston’s previous highest total this summer was 125, the writing looked on the wall.

For the home side, wickets were shared between Liam James (2-38) and cousin Gary (2-30).

But an unlikely chase was then led by new recruit Gino Cleal, who cracked a magnificent 87 with ten fours and a six.

Others batted steadily, with Gary James (22), Chris Goodridge (17), and Keegan Codd (18) contributing, but wickets for Hardy (4-46), Toby Poole (3-53), and Anthony Lewis (2-33) left the home side nine down and staring at defeat.

But 28 not out from Nathan James proved pivotal and he was joined by No 11 Kevin Roberts as the Glebelands boys avoided outright defeat by making 196-9 in 45 overs, 25 short of victory.

Umpires: Arthur Brady and Tony Waldeis.
Scorers: Gracie Morris and Hazel Poole.