All-rounder: Nathan Banner scored 40 and took two wickets for Neyland

THIS season’s Harrison Allen Bowl competition has reached the semi-final stage and the draw made on Monday (Jun 26) at Haverfordwest Cricket Club makes for two interesting encounters.

Whitland v Neyland at Carew on Tuesday, July 11 and Haverfordwest v Cresselly at Pembroke Dock on Thursday, July 13.

The first semi-final is a repeat of the classic 2015 final, which Neyland won off the last ball.

The second semi-final is a repeat of the 2014 and 2016 Final, when Haverfordwest were triumphant on both occasions. Last year’s final went down to the final over when the Town paceman Adam James bowled a classic death over to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat for the Town, after Simon Holliday had scored a century in the 2nd Innings.

It was Holliday who was the star for Haverfordwest in their quarter final match up with Carew as he claimed two wickets and also scored a half century to help his side to an eighteen run victory over Carew last Thursday night (Jun 22).

Town batted first and made a good total of 163-6 from their 22 overs but Carew struggled early on in their reply.

They were reduced to 26-5 at one point but some late hitting from Brian Hall and Ceri Brace took the home side close to their target.

Adam James and Keiran O’Connor each took three wickets to bowl Carew out for 145 and send Town through to the Semi-finals.

On Tuesday, June 20 Cresselly cruised past second division strugglers Llanrhian at the picturesque Llandigigie Fawr ground by nine wickets, as Alex Bayley plundered an unbeaten 72. In contrast to their second round game where the Doves overcame Narberth by five runs in a tie which was in the balance throughout, the quarter final game was completed with no alarms.

The home side were restricted to 122-8 as the youthful seam attack of Sam Harts [3-30] and Tom Arthur [1-35] alongside veteran spinner Ryan Lewis [4-21] bowled well. Reliable Llanrhian batsmen Paul Lewis [60] and Ben Jones [19] were the only players to show any form before opening batsman Bailey came to the fore.

Bailey lost fellow opener Adam Chandler for 26 before County player Iwan Izzard ensured there were no concerns for Neilson Coles side as he finished on 13* and a semi-final spot secured on 124-1.

Neyland travelled to Oatfield Park on Monday (June 19) and overcame second division Burton by 47 runs with all-rounder Nathan Banner the star performer. He added 40 runs to the visitors scorecard after number three Nick Koomen had scored 63 runs, crashing two 6s and six 4s as the cornerstone of the ‘All Whites’ scorecard.

Banner’s innings, of two 6s and five 4s took Neyland from 108-4 after 16 overs after Koomen fell with the score on 132 and then veteran Andrew Miller contributed four singles to an eighth wicket parternship of 30 with Banner to their final total which ultimately proved too much for the Burton batsmen. Veteran seamer John Scale [2-23] and his nephew, spinner Morgan [2-30] bowled well before Banners onslaught caused skipper Richard Jones to try six bowlers to stem the tide.

Opening batsman Jonathan Venables scored 24 [3 fours] in adding 46 for the first wicket with compatriot Jack Davies [23; 1 six; 2 fours] as the home side made an early challenge for victory but this couldn’t be sustained as free scoring batsmen Jones [6] and Martin James[5] were dismissed with the score on 62.

Luke Hayman [10; 1 four] added 35 with Morgan Scale before Hayman was the third run out of the innings, with the score on 99. Scale hit two 6s and two 4s in his top score of 32 before being seventh out on 112. James Davies finished with two fours in an unbeaten 12 as the innings fell away on 128. Patrick Bellerby [1-26], and veteran spinner Andrew Miller [1-32] joined Banner [2-29] in bowling well for Neyland who progress to the semi-final stage for the first time since 2015.

Whitland skipper Iestyn Scourfield is leading his side with conviction this season as they beat St Ishamels on Wednesday (June 21) at Springfield by 32 runs. Scourfield chose to bat first and openers Dylan Balin and Geraint Jones added 43 runs in four overs before Jones [23; 1 six; 3 fours;] fell to the first ball of spinner Andrew Pawlett’s [1- 16] spell in the fifth over, caught by brother Jonathan.

Five runs later Blain departed for 25 [3 fours; 1 six] caught by Jay Power off the bowling of Andrew Palmer [2-42], which allowed Jonathan Thomas and Paul Davies to add 38 runs for the third wicket before Davies fell for 18[1 four] to Palmer via a catch to Daniel Flynn.

Scourfield was run out for 18 with the score on 131 before Matthew Davies, batting at number seven hit three 4s in scoring 22 as he became Brennan Devonald’s [2-29] second wicket with two balls of the innings remaining which closed on 153-7. Jonathan Thomas top scored with 31 as he hit three boundaries and a six before being bowled by Devonald with the score on 110.

Tish’s response was on the back foot after just three balls of the first over when Daniel Flynn was bowled by Thomas first ball, with the score on five.

Fellow opener, skipper Peter Bradshaw was joined by Jonathan Pawlett and added 62 runs before Pawlett departed for 44, having hit three 6s and three 4s, bowled by veteran Wayne Howells [2-31]. Bradshaw was dismissed with the score on 86 having hit three 4s, LBW to Scourfield, his first wicket in a 4-19 spell.

Scourfield was on a hat trick as Andrew Williams departed first ball via the safe hands of Howells, with only Devenold [14] and Andrew Pawlett [10*] then reaching double figures as he innings closed on 121ao in the 20th over with Scourfield bowling Power. Ben Harvey [1-3] had dismissed James Hall in his only over and Matthew Davies took 1-26 as the Whitland team supported the efforts of their Captain to take their place in the semi-final.