Division One cricket: Cresselly (172 for 8) lost to Haverfordwest (175 for 3)

Phil Kirkby was the toast of his Haverfordwest colleagues as he found his form with an undefeated 80 against Cresselly, ensuring that the Town won this vital clash against the side which finished as runners-up to them last season.

He found a willing ally in Steve Phillips, who scored 50 not out in an unbroken stand of 122, and his side had more than an over to spare in reaching Cresselly's challenging tally.

Asked to bat first, Cresselly openers Julian Arthur and Lyn Richards batted sensibly early on and gradually built the tempo as they moved smoothly past 50 and shared 91 runs before Arthur was adjudged lbw to Matthew Johns for 38, including six fours and a six.

It was the start of a mini-collapse. Cresselly lost four wickets for only 16 runs and Williams and Matthew Johns finished up with three wickets apiece.

Cresselly ended up on 172 for 8, Hugh Griffiths remaining unbeaten on ten.

Haverfordwest's hopes of a good start in reply were quickly dented when veteran medium pacer Phil James bowled Dai Davies and trapped Danny Potter lbw by the time the score had reached 16, leaving Phil Kirkby and Karl Rhead to rebuild carefully. Rhead was out for 27, well caught by Damian Arthur in the gully off Richards.

Kirkby and Phillips batted superbly, Kirkby smashing three sixes and eight fours and Phillips compiling an equally important innings which included three fours and a six.

They managed 14 runs off an over to make the run-rate of manageable proportions and picked up 29 points to take them back to the top of the table.

CRESSELLY J. Arthur lbw b M. Johns 38 L. Richards lbw b S. Williams 72 S. Cole ct S. Phillips b S. Williams 16 D. Arthur run out 9 R. Lewis lbw b C. Tucker 0 S. Thomas lbw b S. Williams 4 H. Griffiths not out 10 M. Lewis ct D. Davies b M. Johns 2 S. Jenkins st H. Scriven b M. Johns 5 P. James not out 1 Extras 5 Total (for eight wkts) 172 BOWLING: S. Williams 11-1-45-3; C. Tucker 12-2-33-1; A. Griffiths 12-2-32-0; M. Johns 10-0-47-3.

HAVERFORDWEST D. Potter lbw b P. James 7 D. Davies b P. James 1 P. Kirkby not out 80 K. Rhead ct D. Arthur b L. Richards 27 S. Phillips not out 50 Extras 10 Total (for three wkts) 175 BOWLING: S. Jenkins 11-3-28-0; P. James 12-0-36-2; L. Richards 8-0-56-1; R. Lewis 8.2-2-50-0; M. Lewis 4-0-23-0.

Umpires: Trefor Evans and Terry Sandy Scorers: David Richards and Jayne Cole