Division One title race very much on as Halkyn seal promotion and end Denbigh 100% record

There is very much a title race on in North Wales Cricket League Division One after Halkyn ended leaders Denbigh’s perfect record on Saturday.

The second-place Flintshire outfit whipped their Vale of Clwyd visitors by nine wickets to cut the deficit to just two points.

With two rounds of matches remaining, this is how things stand:

Denbigh – Played 20 Points 256
Halkyn – Played 20 Points 254

Games to play
Denbigh: September 10 – Connah’s Quay (away), Sep 17 – Buckley (home)
Halkyn: September 10 – Conwy (away); Sep 17 – Hawarden Park (home)

REPORTS – SEPTEMBER 3

Halkyn (15) 105-1 Denbigh (0) 103-10

Not only did a joyous Halkyn clinch promotion to the Premier, they also ended Denbigh’s 19-match 100 percent record and gave their own hopes of winning the Division One title a massive boost.

Choosing to bat after winning the toss, table-toppers Denbigh were dismissed for just 103, Andrew Watkin taking 4-13 off nine overs, Jamie Griffiths notching 2-15 and Nathan Lavender 2-20.

Halkyn reached the winning post in the 34th over, scoring 105-1 with skipper Ben Roberts making 44 and Watkin 43 not out, the pair sharing an opening stand of 87.

Conwy (3) 158-10 Hawarden Park (12) 197-8

Phil Bradfield (48), Karl Higgins (33) and Campbell Marr (33 not out) helped Hawarden set a winning total of 197-8 at Bodlondeb.

Tom Plank chipped away and took 4-50, while Raj Britto banked an economical 2-18 for the hosts.

Conwy were all out for 158 in response, opener Britto shining brightest with 67, Marr taking 3-24 and Evan Shaw 3-31 for the Park.

Abergele (4) 177-10 Marchwiel and Wrexham (11) 178-9

David Moulson notched his fifth best career score for Abergele and a 2022 season’s finest 77, but despite this, the hosts fell to a narrow defeat.

Gele were inserted and set 177 all out off 44 overs, Moulson leading the way supported by Edward Rooney (31), while Sion Edwards claimed 4-45 and Phil Oddie 3-30 for the visitors.

Marchwiel and Wrexham slumped to 40-4 in reply, before Scott Lawrenson (50) and Josh Williams (37) steadied the ship with a fifth-wicket combination of 91.

There was still work to do for the visitors, but they scrambled to 178-9 after 42 overs to pinch the points 11-4.

Lewis Tolond (3-25), Rooney (2-20) and Owen Lynam (2-38) ensured the hosts went close.

Buckley (13) 152-10 Llanrwst (2) 94-10

Another cracking win for Buckley moved them into Division One’s top six in their first season back at this level.

The Flintshire hosts opted to bat and posted a modest total of 152, Rocco Franco making 30 and Paul Rambaldi 23.

Robert Parry impressed with the ball for Llanrwst, nabbing 4-27, Alwyn Williams took 2-18 and Lee Thomas 2-23.

Bucks then bowled, fielded and caught really well as a unit to bring down the Rwsters for just 94.

Adam Shaw snapped up 3-15, Louis Parry 2-6, William Norman 2-10 and Fabio Franco 2-15 to seal a 13-2 points triumph.

Dolgellau (15) 245-9 Bangor 2nd XI (0) 100-10

Jaco Oosthuizen hit a club best 78 to inspire Dolgellau to a maximum points thumping of Bangor seconds at The Marian.

The home team amassed 245-9, Jack Williamson adding 38 for the hosts while veteran Phil Leeds (22) shared in a fourth-wicket stand of 95 with Oosthuizen.

Michael Hughes took 4-33 for the visitors, Andy Williams 2-40 and Paul Sturges 2-47.

Despite 62 not out from Cian Williams, Bangor were rolled over for just 100 in total, Williamson 3-18 and Oosthuizen 2-21 for the home team.

Gwersyllt Park (14) 219-5 Connah’s Quay (1) 141-10

Run machine Iroshan De Silva came within three runs of a fifth league century of the season as Gwersyllt Park set another big total.

The skipper made 97 out of 219-5, boosting his Division One tally for the season to 1,341 runs at an average of 121.91.

Ralfie Challinor added 32 for the Park, Cai Pearson 26 no.

In reply, the Quay were sent packing for 141, Joshua Clarke 62 and Mali Auty 52, De Silva completing another tremendous all-round performance by taking 5-32, Neil Pearson pocketing 3-32 and Daniel Jones 2-15.