North Wales Division One – title race goes to last day of season, Denbigh and Halkyn both win

NORTH WALES CRICKET LEAGUE REPORTS – SEPTEMBER 10

DIVISION ONE

The Division One title race will go down to the last day of the season.

Denbigh hold a two-point lead over second-place Halkyn heading into next Saturday’s final round of games.

Long-time leaders Denbigh will host Buckley, while Halkyn entertain Hawarden Park.

REPORTS

Connah’s Quay (1) 135-10 Denbigh (14) 136-3

Harrison Jones’ unbeaten 51 played a key role in table-toppers Denbigh’s victory at Central Park.

The visitors won the toss and put Quay into bat, the Deesiders getting bowled out for 135, opener Mali Auty top-scoring with 46.

For Denbigh, Sam Lewis picked up 3-32, Ciaran Lucas 3-34 and Jones 2-16 off nine.

In reply, the Vale of Clwyd side reached 136-3 in 32.1, Jones and Gerallt Lyall (31) putting on 77 for the second wicket.

Jones and skipper Tom Schrimshaw (22 no) then added an unbeaten 58 for the fourth wicket to seal a 14-1 win.

Conwy (1) 125-10 Halkyn (14) 128-2

A 10th straight league win kept Halkyn right in the title hunt heading into the final set of matches for 2022.

The Flintshire side now need to better Denbigh’s result by three points on the last Saturday of the campaign next weekend to become champions.

Halkyn turned on the style again at Bodlondeb on Saturday.

They bowled Conwy out for 125, Philip Michael Davies making 38 for the hosts, Andrew Watkin snaring 4-29 and Muhammad Bajwa 2-33.

Halkyn hit back with 128-2 in 34.1, Gareth Fox 43 not out, Watkin 35 and Shamar Forde 23 no, to clinch a 14-1 outcome.

Bangor 2nd XI (0) 98-10 Hawarden Park (15) 199-7

After setting a challenging 199-7 at Ty Newydd, Hawarden Park gave Bangor seconds no chance of causing an upset in reply.

Put into bat, the visitors batted consistently throughout, opener Tom Ducker making 44, Danny Sprake 40 and Adam De Rycke 30 not out, Peter Jones 3-37 for the Citizens.

The hosts were then sent packing for just 98, Campbell Marr 3-14, De Rycke 2-16, Ian Martin 2-19 and Evan Shaw 2-26.

Buckley (3) 156-10 Gwersyllt Park (12) 160-6

Although they removed run machine Iroshan De Silva for just 18, Buckley were unable to stop Gwersyllt Park reaching the winning post at Lane End.

The home side were put in and openers Rocco Franco (75) and William Norman (27) made a great start with a stand of 108.

Franco’s superb knock came off 78 balls and included 11 fours and two sixes, but only one other Bucks batsman after the first pair made double figures and the innings closed on a disappointing 156.

Neil Pearson took 4-13 and De Silva starred more with the ball this time, snapping up 4-17. Ethan McCarthy claimed 2-24.

Captain De Silva, the league’s leading run-scorer on 1,341 before start of play, made just 18 off the Buckley attack before being caught by Sam Evans off Fabio Franco.

However, a vital 62 from 48 deliveries by Lewis Cole, who struck seven fours and four sixes, turned the game and helped the Park get to 160-6 in just 22.3 overs.

Fabio Franco pocketed 2-24 and Jack Williams 2-39 for the Flintshire team.

Llanrwst (4) 79-10 Abergele (11) 91-10

After making just 91, Abergele probably did not think that total would be anywhere near enough to win at Gwydir Park – but it was.

Gele were all out cheaply after being inserted by the hosts, Edward Rooney best with 21, Elliott Mutch 2-7 off eight, Adam Thomas and Alwyn Williams both 2-14 for the Rwsters.

The hosts fared even worse, bowled out for just 79, Iwan Edwards top-scoring on 22.

For Gele, Wasim Ali collected 3-12 off eight, Lewis Tolond 3-17 and Ben Garnett 2-18.

Marchwiel and Wrexham (1) 86-10 Dolgellau (14) 176-7

Jaco Oosthuizen made it back-to-back fifties for Dolgellau in a cracking win at Marchwiel Hall.

Having hit a first team best 78 against Bangor seconds the week before, Oosthuizen followed up with 70 on Saturday in his team’s total of 176-7 after they won the toss and elected to bat. Sion Francis added 30 for the visitors.

Scott Lawrenson pouched 3-43 for the home side, while Phil Oddie returned an impressive 2-12 off nine.

Sam Shoemark (31) was the only batsman to make much impression as Marchwiel and Wrexham fell to 86 all out, Morgan Yorke 3-29 and Jack Williams 2-30 for triumphant Dolgellau.