2018 Alan Brown Cup Final: Lamphey (107-7 and 131 all out) lost to Pembroke Dock (161-7 and 80-1) by 9 wickets

Pembroke Dock are the 2018 Alan Brown Cup champions after ultimately outplaying local rivals Lamphey at Spring Hill, Whitland yesterday.

It was Lamphey skipper Hywel Gibbs who won the toss and chose to bat on an outfield that remained lightning quick throughout despite rain during the day - but The Dock took the initiative by restricting The Stags to 107-7.

Nick Daley's men then established a 54 run lead as they finished 161-7 in their reply, and then dismissed The Stags for 131, setting themselves a modest 80 for victory.

And in front of a sizeable crowd, it was man of the match Daley and Luke Murray who then eased them over the line with eight overs to spare.

First Innings:

After opting to bat, The Stags signalled their intentions as Nick Johnson cut John Camani for four in the first over - and both he and Lewis Haines then hit boundaries of Billy Wood as they took 13 off the first 11 balls.

But Wood replied by having Johnson caught by Jamie White, and from that point on, it was The Dock who exerted control.

Wood struck again in the 6th over by skittling Scott Brunton, although Haines and James Skeels took matters to 60-2 in the 12th over when Haines was bowled by White, having hit five fours in his 35.

It was Daley who was then instrumental in keeping the pressure on as he took 3-27 in his four overs, including the important wicket of Skeels for 19.

No 6 Nick Shelmerdine played intelligently though as he stroked two fours and picked off singles in his 22 not out, helping The Stags at least past the three figure mark.

Any hopes Lamphey had of taking a tea time lead were blown away quickly by Jake Griffiths, who off Grant Cole's opening over, launched the first six of the game over mid-on and also hit two fours as he and Luke Murray took 17 from it.

That became 27 from two overs as Griffiths hit two more fours off Peter McGilloway, and Gibbs responded by bring himself on next over.

It paid dividends as he had Scott Brunton caught behind by Johnson, but Griffiths was undeterred, cracking two more big sixes off the spinner.

And by the time he was out, bowled in the sixth over by McGilloway for 33 (three sixes and three fours), his side had reached 64 and had the advantage.

Daley and Peter Kingdom helped maintain the momentum as the skipper hit five fours in his 26, and Kingdom cracked two fours and a six in his 15.

The Stags did manage to slow the rate as both Gibbs and James Skeels finished with 2-33 off their five over spells, but No 7 Billy Wood played a vital late role with 33 not out (two fours). Jamie White also hit 19 as The Dock, who batted through light rain throughout their innings, took a 54 run lead into the break.

Lamphey Batting:

Nick Johnson ct Jamie White b Billy Wood 9

Lewis Haines b Jamie White 35

Scott Brunton b Billy Wood 6

James Skeels b Nick Daley 19

Peter McGilloway ct Scott Griffiths b Jamie White 4

Nick Shelmerdine not out 22

Tom Powell ct Jake Griffiths b Nick Daley 3

Grant Cole b Nick Daley 0

Hywel Gibbs not out 4

Extras 5

Total (7 wickets) 107

Pembroke Dock Bowling: John Camani 3-0-21-0; Billy Wood 5-0-25-2; Rob Hearn 3-0-13-0; Jamie White 5-0-23-2; Nick Daley 4-0-22-3.

Pembroke Dock Batting:

Jake Griffiths b Peter McGilloway 33

Luke Murray ct Nick Johnson b Hywel Gibbs 10

Nick Daley b James Skeels 26

Peter Kingdom b Peter McGilloway 15

Scott Griffiths run out 8

Rob Hearn b James Skeels 1

Billy Wood not out 32

Jamie White st Nick Johnson b Andrew Skeels 19

Craig Butland not out 1

Extras 16

Total (7 wickets) 161

Lamphey Bowling: Grant Cole 1-0-15-0; Peter McGilloway 4-0-51-1; Hywel Gibbs 5-0-33-2; James Skeels 5-0-33-2; Andrew Skeels 5-0-31-1.

Second Innings:

The Stags needed quick runs and Nick Johnson hit John Camani to the fence off the first ball, but Haines went cheaply as again Wood struck early by bowling the dangerous opener.

Johnson struck another four but then fell LBW to Camani for 13, and Skeels was brilliantly caiught in the deep by Butland off White.

That left Lamphey 51-3, still three runs adrift, but they were then given hope by Scott Brunton and McGilloway.

The pair scored quickly in a stand of 58, as McGilloway launched Daley for a straight six in the 12th over, and also hit four boundaries to reach 32 - only to be skittled by the same bowler as he tried to go big again.

Daley dismissed Shelmerdine (2) in the same manner , and although The Dock re-assumed control with three more quick wickets, Brunton showed his class with six boundaries as he made 43.

But he was eventually eighth man out, stumped by the impressive Griffiths as Daley took figures of 4-25, and The Dock wrapped things up with the run out of Ben Hathaway off the final ball as Lamphey were dismissed for 131.

It left The Dock needing just 80 for victory, and Murray got them going with a four behind square off Skeels early on.

But then in the third over, it was Skeels who gave Lamphey a huge lift, three times beating Griffiths' bat before forcing him into a mistimed hook shot that gave the bowler a simple return catch.

And then next ball, Daley survived a big LBW shout as Skeels appeared to ramp up the pace.

But that was as good as it got for The Stags, and it was Murray who then took the lead role in seeing his side home.

He looked at ease as he hit seven fours in his 43 not out, with Daley playing the perfect foil as he batted patiently for 9 not out - and the pair secured the win in 11.5 overs.

But there was plenty of camaraderie afterwards as both sets of players shared drinks on the balcony, and Dave Brandon thanked hosts Whitland, and congratulated competition organiser Arthur Brady and all involved in a successful final.

Les Hastings announced Daley as the man of the match - giving the skipper double reason to be celebrate as he received the Alan Brown Cup off Brian Cooke to the delight of team mates and supporters.

"The way we bowled and fielded was outstanding," he told Telegraph Sport afterwards.

“To restrict a team like Lamphey to scores of 107 and 131 was a great effort.

And Daley’s team will now chase a double, currently top of Division Three by 10 points and heading for an exciting title race with Carew 2nds.

“That’s the target now. There is a long way to go but we have to keep going.”

Opposite number Gibbs meanwhile, was dignified in defeat.

“We didn’t get enough in the first innings and lost key wickets early,” he said.

“And then Jake Griffiths got away from us in the first five overs of their reply. We tried to pull it back but in our second innings we really needed about 180 to make a game of it.

“But they are playing really well at the moment and fully deserved it. So congratulations to Pembroke Dock.”

There was also a poignant moment following the first innings of the final when Trefor Evans, along with Gwynne Phillips and Whitland Chairman Mark Lee, unveiled a new bench dedicated to Trefor’s late father Cyril, who was such an instrumental and dedicated member of the club.

Lamphey Batting:

Nick Johnson lbw b John Camani 13

Lewis Haines b Billy Wood 1

Scott Brunton st Scott Griffiths b Nick Daley 43

James Skeels ct Craig Butland b Jamie White 9

Peter McGilloway b Nick Daley 32

Nick Shelmerdine b Nick Daley 2

Tom Powell b Billy Wood 1

Grant Cole b Rob Hearn 4

Hywel Gibbs b Nick Daley 0

Ben Hathaway run out 1

Andrew Skeels not out 0

Extras 27

Total 133 (all out)

Pembroke Dock Bowling: John Camani 5-0-31-1; Billy Wood 3.3-0-29-2; Jamie White 4-0-30-1; Nick Daley 5-0-25-4; Rob Hearn 2.5-0-10-1.

Pembroke Dock Batting:

Jake Griffiths ct & b James Skeels 3

Luke Murray not out 43

Nick Daley not out 9

Extras 25

Total (1 wicket) 80

Lamphey Bowling: James Skeels 4-0-25-1; Peter McGilloway 1-0-11-0; Scott Brunton4.5-0-27-1; Hywel Gibbs 2-0-14-0.

Umpires: Richard Scriven and John Williams.

Scorers: Nicola Murray and Helen Hodges.