North Wales Premier cricket – Mold win an epic, top pair Menai Bridge and St Asaph triumph
Two contenders, seven points apart and two games apiece left – the battle for the North Wales Cricket League Premier Division title could go right down to the wire.
Saturday and Sunday saw leaders Menai Bridge and second-place St Asaph win big again.
This is the current state of play with two rounds of matches left:
Menai Bridge – Played 20 Points 262
St Asaph – Played 20 Points 255
Remaining games:
Sep 10: Mold v Menai Bridge, Llandudno v St Asaph
Sep 17: Menai Bridge v Gresford, St Asaph v Pwllheli
REPORTS – SEPTEMBER 3 AND 4
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
Gresford (1 pt) 170-10 St Asaph (14 pts) 131-3 (revised target)
Due to rain Saints faced a revised target of 128 off a reduced 33 overs on Sunday and got there comfortably.
Gresford won the toss, batted, and were all out for 170 off 48.5 overs, opener Daniel Williams top-scoring with 56.
Asaph’s Dan Evans took 4-28, Mathew Ryan 3-32 and Gareth Goodson 2-34.
In reply, Saints were 7-1 and 25-2, but Nathanael Scott (37). Mathew Ryan (34 no) and Dan Evans (26 no) ensured the visitors reached 131-3 in 28.5 overs and sealed a 14-1 points triumph, Sam Thompson 2-35 for the hosts.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
Mochdre (0) 82-10 Menai Bridge (15) 83-1
Former skipper Dion Holden returned best batting and bowling for the Bridge, who continued their relentless charge towards the title.
Holden took 3-17 and Gerallt Roberts 3-27 as struggling Mochdre were bowled out for just 82, veteran opener Gareth Davies making 28.
Ashley Wood also picked up a miserly 2-3 off 8.5 overs and Gethin Roberts 2-20 for the islanders.
Holden finished 37 not out as Menai breezed to 83-1 off 14.3 to bank another 15-0 haul.
Mold (11) 223-8 Pontblyddyn (4) 222-6
Mold produced the performance of the day to edge a narrow win over an always difficult to beat Pontblyddyn.
Pont opted to bat and were 116-6 before Chris Moss produced a superb knock of 80 not out, sharing in an unbroken partnership of 106 for the seventh wicket with Jamie Griffiths (25 no).
Moss’ innings came off just 56 balls and included 11 fours and three sixes.
Earlier, opener Stevel Rodney had made 29.
Mold’s star bowler was John Crane, whose analysis of 10 overs, five maidens, three wickets for nine runs was exceptional.
The hosts got home on 223-8 in the final over with four balls to spare.
Cheered on by a lively home crowd, Jakeem Forde made a vital 62 and captain Richard Crane added 28. Six others made important double-figure contributions.
Ryan Dunning snapped up 2-31 and Rhys Jones 2-47 for Pont.
Bangor (14) 141-2 Pwllheli (1) 138-10
Owen Reilly (59 not out) and David Winter (40 no) shared an unbroken third-wicket stand of 75 to guide Bangor to an emphatic victory.
Skipper Jason Underwood stood out with 73 as Pwllheli were bowled out for 138 after being invited to bat.
Saami Welsh took 3-18, Nadeem Rehman 3-26 and Reilly 2-14 for the hosts, Robbie Marshall grabbing three catches behind the stumps.
In response, Bangor were 66-2 before Reilly and Winter clinched the match.
Llandudno (1) 143-10 Northop (14) 236-9
Opener James Hughes (69), skipper Bart Ryan-Beswick (39) and Jordan Evans (32) did most to ensure Northop amassed a match-winning 236-9 at The Oval.
Jack Rimmington claimed 2-25, Casey Bedford 2-42 and Kai Page 2-48 for the hosts, who were then dismissed for 143, Sam Rimmington 39.
Thomas Hughes grabbed 4-26 from 10 for the visitors, Evans 2-8, Matthew Williams 2-15 and Tom Sudder 2-16.
Llay Welfare (0) 85-10 Brymbo (15) 89-0
Gareth Boys pocketed 5-13 and Joseph Norman 3-19 as Brymbo romped to an easy win at The Ring.
Llay could only manage 85 after being put in, Tom Crewe 27 and Jacob Roberts 25, and the Steelmen then cruised to 89-0 in 14.3, Seth Agard hitting 45 not out to add to his 2-28 with the ball, and James Claybrook 36 no.