Alec Colley Cup semi final: Carew 2nds (147-6) lost to Whitland 2nds (151-5) by 5 wickets

The first Alec Colley semi final provided an exciting finish in Johnston last night as Whitland came through a tense run chase against Carew to win with just three balls to spare.

With the scores tied, it was Gethin Scourfield who lofted a boundary to settle matters, sealing a fourth successive cup final for The Borderers.

But it was far from straight forward after skipper Martin Thomas called right at the toss and invited The Rooks to bat, and opener Luke Hicks (5) cracked a four off his first ball but was then bowled in the second over by Iestyn Scourfield.

Scott Richards and No 3 Brian Hall steadied matters on an inevitably quick outfield at Glebelands, with the latter hitting three boundaries off Connor Bowen in the 7th over to help take Carew to 53-1.

The momentum was checked when Richards (16) was skittled by Wayne Howells - but Hall, who survived being dropped early in his innings, was joined by James Hinchliffe in a stand of 53.

He hit eight boundaries en route to 54 off 42 balls, before being caught by Connor Bowen off namesake Jack.

Hinchliffe went on to make 29 (two fours) before also being undone by the spin of Bowen, and Carew skipper Dai Rees (1) was run out as he and Robbie Hicks pushed for late runs.

Hicks (14) did hit two fours before being bowled in Iestyn Scourfield's second spell, but Jacob Knox (3 not out) and Morgan Grieve (6 not out) edged the score to 147-6, with Grieve driving Scourfield to the fence in the final over.

For Whitland, Scourfield finished 2-30, Jack Bowen 2-24, and Howells 1-30.

And the 2015 and 2016 cup winners then got their reply off to flier through Howells and the in-form Jack Bowen, as the pair raced to 51-0 inside six overs.

Howells was dropped on the way to hitting four fours in his 21, but was then bowled by Rob Scourfield as Carew got a foothold.

But Iestyn Scourfield and Bowen, who had earlier got off the mark with a six, continued to build and at 95-1 in the 13th over, Whitland looked clear favourites before Scourfield holed out to Scott Richards off Jacob Knox for 14 (two fours).

Ed John entered the fray and he got going with a maximum off Iori Hicks, but after reaching 12, he miscued a pull shot of the same bowler and was duly caught and bowled by the youngster.

Meanwhile Bowen was beginning to ride his luck, surviving a stumping shout off Hicks and also being dropped over the boundary rope for six.

But with his side needing 23 win off 24 balls, he cracked another six and then ran two two off Knox to reach 76 off 47 balls (four fours and five sixes) - but the bowler kept his composure and Bowen was then caught in the deep by Hinchcliffe.

That brought in Adam Davies but off his first ball he was brilliantly run out by a direct hit from Carl Thomas as he pushed for a second run.

That left Whitland 134-4, still needing 14, but skipper Thomas and Gethin Scourfield kept their heads to add 11 more ahead off Hicks' final over.

Thomas (5 not out) took a single off the first ball before Scourfield's top edge just evaded a diving Hall - and the batting pair managed a hurried two.

And with rain falling and the field forced to come in, Scourfield (12 not out) then finished proceedings with a boundary to round off a hard fought semi final.

For The Rooks, Rob Scourfield finished 1-27, Hicks 1-34, and Knox 2-29.

Whitland will now await the winners of Thursday's second semi final between Haverfordwest and Cresselly at Imble Lane, Pembroke Dock - with the final set for Sunday, August 12th at Treleet, Pembroke.

Umpires: Arthur Brady and Les Hastings.