PEMBROKE COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE

A week last Saturday young Llechryd all-rounder John Curran returned from a serious leg injury suffered playing football for Newcastle Emlyn in the Costcutter League and made an immediate impact with a brilliant unbeaten double century for the club seconds.

On Saturday the 22-year-old plumber was back in the first team and marked his return with another sensational performance in scoring a brilliant 109 not out against Whitland 2nds in Division Two of the Pembroke County League at Spring Hill.

Having first use of a good batting strip Whitland posted 153 for the loss of six wickets with Gethin Scourfield making 40 and Jonathan Thomas contributing 35.

But in such conditions a total of 153 in 45 overs was not considered a defendable total and so it proved as Curran and Dewi Davies made hay in the sunshine.

With Davies playing the anchor role Curran went after the home attack, scoring with aggressive strokes all round the wicket in hitting 12 fours and six sixes. The visitors made 158 without losing a wicket with Dewi Davies unbeaten on 43.

Now Curran is back in the fold and firing on all cylinders Llechryd will surely fancy their chances of challenging for promotion during the second half of the season and it could prove imprudent to disregard their hopes.

As the Borderers were restricted to 153 for the loss of six wickets seamer Peter Betteley stole the limelight with a quite amazing bowling stint.

The popular paceman, now at the super veteran stage, sent down 12 overs, ten of which were maidens and picked up two wickets while conceding just five runs. The figures will take some beating in all five Pembrokeshire

divisions this term.

Gethin Scourfield (40) and Jonathan Thomas (35) were the main Whitland run contributors but the remainder of the batsmen struggled to make an impact.

Llechryd 2nds also did the business in springing a five-wicked win over their Saundersfoot counterparts at the RDM Oval, a match sponsored by local firm Grow It Mow It.

The visitors were bowled out for a meagre total of 69 as Joe Mansfield (2-6), Andrew Fletcher (2-14) and debutant Nick North (2-11) did the damage.

The home side knocked off the runs for the loss of five wickets and banked 27 points.

There was further good news for the Teifi Valley hotshots with the return to action of former youth team player Josh Ward who produced some graceful shots in an innings of 37.