North Wales Cricket Division Two – Carmel stun leaders Bethesda, Caernarfon off the bottom

NORTH WALES CRICKET LEAGUE REPORTS – AUG 13

DIVISION TWO

Carmel (11) 93-9 Bethesda (4) 92-10

Final pair Michael O’Grady and bowling hero Amer Jamil produced the runs which earned Carmel a surprise one-wicket victory over previously unbeaten Bethesda.

Saturday’s visitors to Pen-y-Gelli had won all 16 Division Two matches this season before running into Ben Sim’s dark horses from Flintshire.

Pesda won the toss, chose to bat, but were bowled out for a very unusually low 92, skipper Jonathan Williams best with 32.

Jamil picked up an excellent 4-21, Connor Hughes bagged 3-7 off nine overs including six maidens, while there was a wicket each for Ieuan Jones, Derek Johnson and skipper Sim.

In response, Jones made 25 and Sim 16 as the hosts reached a comfortable 76-5, but a burst of wickets left them 86-9.

However, O’Grady (6 not out) and Jamil (5 no) edged Carmel over the line on 93-9 at the end of 28 overs.

Craig Newey snapped up 4-12 off nine and Ashley Rowlands 4-24 for the visitors, who despite the 11-4 defeat still head the table by 27 points.

Clwb Criced Caernarfon (13) 130-4 Ruthin (2) 128-10

Gary Leadbitter (50) and Monis Alltaf (40 not out) formed a match-winning fourth-wicket stand which ensured Caernarfon lifted themselves off the bottom of Division Two.

Put into bat, Ruthin were sent packing for 128, Joshua Duckworth 28, Altaf and Ian Morgan both snaring 3-22 for the Cofis, Barry Roberts 2-25 and Leadbitter 2-28.

Leadbitter, run out on 50, and Altaf then all but smoothed the home side’s path to 130-4 off 29.5.

Gresford 2nd XI (4) 168-6 Hawarden Park 2nd XI (11) 180-8

Hawarden seconds ran out narrow 12-run winners at Clappers Lane.

Imran Khattak (42), Haseeb Hanif Bikya and Michael Almond (both 41) did most to help the visitors set 180-8 off their 40 overs, Harry Morris 3-32 and Mikk Pold 3-41 for the Colliers.

Despite 43 not out from skipper George Morris, plus knocks of 35 from Gez Jones and Wes Evans’ 31, Gresford seconds finished just short of their target on 168-6, Khattak 2-35.

Menai Bridge 2nd XI (15) 289-7 St Asaph 2nd XI (0) 174-10

While Bethesda were losing their unbeaten record at Carmel, second-place Menai Bridge seconds cut the gap on the Ogwen Valley table-toppers to 27 points with a 15-0 demolition of Saints.

Matt Bixby cracked 89, Mathew Jones 38, Ben Evans 37 and Dion Owen 34 as the Bridge amassed 289-7, Charlie Williams 2-28.

The visitors were all out for 174 in reply, skipper and wicket-keeper Roger Cloate with a career-best 108, Ian Granger snapping up 3-19 and Liam Bibby 3-35 for the Anglesey winners.

Mochdre 2nd XI (0) 97-10 Northop 2nd XI (15) 100-1

Daniel Phillips led the charge with 36 but Mochdre seconds were bowled out for just 97 at Swan Road, Darren Williams 3-18, Evan Collett 2-26 and Steve Gregson 2-27 for Northop seconds.

The visitors then eased to 100-1 in 15, Leo Grieg 37.

Mold 2nd XI (1) 222-8 Bersham (14) 223-3

Suresh Lakmal Koswaththage was Bersham’s chief batting hero with 88 not out as the Colliers chased down a target of 223 to win at Chester Road.

Mold seconds elected to bat and chalked up 222-8 off their 40 overs, opener Chris Boulton (95) and skipper Luca Davies (64) sharing a big opening partnership.

Maneesha Ayomal Nissanka took 3-32 and Arjun Ar 2-30 for the visitors.

Bersham got to 223-3 in 35.3, Koswaththage’s unbeaten 88 putting him on 626 league runs for the campaign.

Fellow opener Nilanka Da Silva notched 50 and Aneesh Pattali 38 in a magical 14-1 win for the visitors.