On a dramatic final day of the season, Colwyn Bay defied the odds to clinch promotion back to the 1st XI ECB Premier League.
Before the start of play three teams were in contention for the First Division title and the top two elevation spots – and third-place Bay ranked as clear outsiders.
However, a stunning defeat for leaders Lytham to relegation-threatened Caldy meant they dropped to third, Rainford pinched the title by beating Sefton Park and 25 points for Colwyn booked them runners-up.
Final standings: Rainford – played 22 points 384; Colwyn Bay 22-373; Lytham 22-369.
So Bay can look forward to top level Liverpool Competition cricket next year versus the likes of Wallasey and Ormskirk.
On a sad note for North Wales, Northop Hall finished bottom of the First Division and go in the opposite direction to Colwyn Bay. Hall will join Prestatyn in the Second Division in 2023.
The Bay were relegated from the Premier as recently as 2019, so it has been a relatively short stay in the second-tier for the Penrhyn Avenue club.
The Welsh side won the toss at Ainsdale and chose to bat, chalking up 222-8 declared off 49.1 overs.
Will Evans top-scored with 59, opener Jack Parry made 37, Sion Morris 32 and skipper George Johansen 31.
In response, Ainsdale were bowled out for 188, record-breaking spinner Paul Jenkins, on his 400th league appearance for the club, grabbing late wickets to finish with 4-61, Patrick Glover taking 3-31 and running out danger man Muhummad Irfan.
Evergreen left-arm spinner Paul Jenkins’ four-wicket haul ensured he ended the season with 70 in the league – the highest number of his career.
The 50-year-old claimed 75 victims in all competitions for Colwyn Bay in 2009 and 2017 and 74 across all matches this year, but that 2022 figure of 70 is his all-time league finest.
Jenko has now scooped 950 career league wickets for Bay and 154 for Northop Hall = total 1104.
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