Llechryd are as good as relegated in Division Two of the Pembroke County Cricket League after failing to beat fellow strugglers Haverfordwest 2nds at the Castell Malgwyn ground.

With two games remaining it is mathematically possible for the Teifisiders to avoid the drop by one point but they would have to pick up a maximum haul of 60 points at home against Carew 2nds and away against Whitland 2nds. And it would also require Haverfordwest 2nds not to take any points from clashes with Cresselly 2nds and Llangwm.

Haverfordwest 2nds posted an imposing total of 247-8 after the visitors looked like being dismissed for a low total. The game was turned on its head with the arrival in the middle of number four batsman Kahif Ijaz who attacked the bowling and sent the score racing.

In a swashbuckling innings of 74 Ijaz hoisted four towering sixes and was especially heavy on pace bowler Ajeesh ‘Ajay’ Thanammakal whose two six-over spells cost 93 runs.

Ijaz was given great support from middle order man Avron Roulstone with an unbeaten 38 and Josh Hicks (48) who was brilliantly stumped by Gwion Howells off a wide ball.

Medium-pacers Peter Betterley and skipper John Curran snapped up two wickets apiece for the homesters.

Opener Mike Carter again batted responsibly for Llechryd with a holding innings of 33, skipper John Curran (37) hoisted a huge six back over the bowler’s head and ‘Ajay’ compensated for his bowling frailties with an unbeaten innings of 64. All-rounder James Heneker weighed in with 27 but the concession of so many runs proved beyond the visitors who were forced to settle for a draw.

Crymych remain in fourth in Division Three after a draw against Pembroke Dock at Glandy Cross when the Preselimen earned 21 points.

Top order batsmen Sam Kurtz who made an unbeaten 88 which included 15 boundaries and Osian Wyn (74) took a liking to the Dock attack as they scored heavily all round the wicket and the homesters posted 211-3.

Seamer Avron Roulstone was best of the visiting bowlers as he picked up four wickets.

Nick Daley (60) was the mainstay in the Dock reply and was given excellent support from Jamie White (35) but the visitors were left on 171-7 after their allotted overs and the game ended in a draw.

Llechryd 2nds continued on course for promotion in Division Five thanks to a two-wicket away win over Cresselly 3rds which left them one point off the promotion places.

Batting first Cresselly 3rds were indebted to Richard Harries (37) and Luke Cole (23) in a total of 116-6. Tom Beard took two wickets for 15 runs.

As the Teifisiders replied veteran batsman Andrew Cave who has not had any time in the middle for more than five seasons wielded the willow to great effect as he made an undefeated 40 and Llechryd reached their target for the loss of eight wickets.