What a weekend for Northop Hall Cricket Club!
Not only victory in the Welsh Cup, but also a win over mighty opponents in the Liverpool and District Competition.
Sunday saw the Hall take on Brymbo for a place in the Welsh Cricket Cup North Zone 1 final, where Northop CC await.
Brymbo won the toss and elected to bat, setting 179-8 off 40 overs.
Wales NC North batsman James Claybrook scored 61 and Connor Davies added 47 not out.
For the Smithy Lane hosts, Ranit Adke produced excellent figures of 2-15 off eight overs, Daniel Graham collecting 2-41.
Hall made light work of reaching the winning post, getting to 182-2 in just 29.3 overs.
Young wicket-keeper Evan Withe, aged just 16, hit a fantastic 94 off 87 balls, including 14 fours, opening partner Josh Smith adding 43 in a stand of 89.
Withe went just six short of a ton with the total on 169, but skipper Will Higginson was there at the end on 36 not out.
Llandudno host Colwyn Bay in the North Zone 2 final next Sunday.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, Northop Hall welcomed the illustrious Bootle to Smithy Lane.
Surprisingly relegated last year from the 1st XI ECB Premier League, which they have won on numerous occasions, the Liverpool outfit included in their line-up former Hall players Kieron New and Joshua Andrady, as well as ex-Colwyn Bay and Prestatyn batsman Ryan Westwell.
It is a good reflection on North Wales cricket that such a distinguished club as Bootle are now recruiting players from our area.
The Merseysiders were put in and bowled out for 180, Westwell making 51 before being bowled by young talent Joshua Leach, and Andrady posted 32.
Sri Lankan Dhanosh Kaludewa starred with the ball for the hosts, taking 5-35, with 15-year-old left-arm spinner Leach picking up 2-38 from 12.
The home side were 139-5 in reply before Jamie Hodgson (45 not out) and Kaludewa (32 no off 16 balls) saw them to 182 without further loss.
Will Higginson earlier made 32, Evan Withe 24 and Josh Smith 22, paceman New grabbing 2-47 against his old club.
So, a famous win for the Hall, who remain in the bottom two, but are moving in the right direction.
North Wales wins over Bootle in the Liverpool Competition have been very rare indeed over the years. They are to be treasured.
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