Welsh Cup cricket: Northop Hall edge close win at Menai Bridge to reach semi-finals

WELSH CRICKET CUP QUARTER-FINAL

MENAI BRIDGE 160-9 (40) NORTHOP HALL 163-8 (39.3)

Tail-enders Will Edwards and Kieran New guided Northop Hall to victory with three balls to spare of a thrilling Welsh Cup quarter-final at Tyn-y-Caeau.

In the end, the Liverpool and District Competition visitors triumphed by just two wickets over their North Wales League Premier Division hosts.

Put into bat, Menai Bridge set what looked like a modest 160-9 off their 40 overs, Carl Jones top-scoring with 35, opener Luke Jones adding 22, Sam Bixby and James Jones 20 apiece.

For Hall, Harrison Jones bowled a superb spell of 2-10 off eight overs, schoolboy spinning sensation Joshua Leach scooped 2-22 and New 2-47.

In reply, the visitors were sitting pretty on 145-4, but then a mini-collapse left them 154-8 and still seven short of the winning target.

However, Edwards and New added a priceless nine runs to clinch victory in the final over.

Earlier, Ben Slater had made 30, Jac Kennedy and Jamie Hodgson 24 apiece, skipper Will Higginson 21 and Alastair Andrady 20.

Not a day for big scores, but more a group of smaller but handy contributions paying dividends.

James Jones snared 2-25 for the islanders, Phil Smith 2-38 and Gethin Roberts 2-46.

WEEKEND ACTION

Not a single Saturday match involving North Wales clubs in the North Wales League, Liverpool and District Competition or the Shropshire County League was completed because of rain.

Some games got underway, but were abandoned, while many others were cancelled without a ball being bowled.

Dedicated photographer Andre Pepper was at Ty Newydd where Bethesda were 137-6 off 30 overs against Bangor seconds before play was abandoned when the heavens opened.

Some North Wales League matches were played on Sunday, details on the way soon.