Sensational Harrison Jones ton wins Welsh Cup epic for Denbigh; Colwyn Bay, Brymbo and Gresford progress

WELSH CUP CRICKET 2023

NORTH ZONE 2 SEMI-FINAL

DENBIGH 239-3 NORTHOP 226-8

Skipper Harrison Jones hit a phenomenal 163 as Denbigh progressed with a stunning win over Northop at Ystrad Road.

Jones, who won the Welsh Cup with Colwyn Bay in 2015 where his 4-20 with the ball earned him the Man of the Match award, stayed on course for a repeat success with Denbigh in 2023.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, Denbigh made a mammoth 239-3 off 40 overs, opener Jones’ 163 coming off 131 balls and including 19 fours and six sixes.

The Wales NC North all-rounder, in fantastic form at the start of the current season, shared a third-wicket stand of 128 with Archie Sussex (24 no).

Charlie Collins claimed 2-50 off eight overs for the visitors.

Northop were in fine form themselves and gave it a real go in reply, but ended 13 short on 226-8.

Richard Walker (83) and James Roberts (42) put on 118 for the opening wicket, but the rest of the batting could not match those standards.

Harrison Jones picked up 2-34, Stuart Griffiths 2-36 and Sam Lewis 2-53 for the home side.

NORTH ZONE 2 SEMI-FINAL

COLWYN BAY 189-10 MOCHDRE 97-10

Bay advanced to the next stage of the national cup they won eight years ago after seeing off Mochdre at Penrhyn Avenue.

Opener Will Evans cracked 50 off 41 balls and Luke Russell added 32 as the home side were dismissed for 189 in 39.4 overs after electing to bat.

Owen Davies snapped up an excellent 4-22 off 5.4, Finlay Jones 2-19 and Matty Humphreys 2-39 for the away side.

Mochdre were bowled out in reply for 97, Ryan Holtby bagging 4-20 for the hosts, Arthur Jones 3-23 and Adam Campion 2-21, James French top-scoring for Mochdre with 25.

NORTH ZONE 1 SEMI-FINAL

CONNAH’S QUAY 165-7 GRESFORD 291-7

Daniel Williams smashed 112 off 119 balls in Gresford’s thumping Welsh Cup victory at Central Park.

Opener Williams hit 15 fours and a six as the Wrexham area side amassed 291-7 off 40 overs after calling the coin correctly and choosing to bat.
Sam Thompson struck 69, putting on 128 for the first wicket with Williams, Chris Ellwood added 40 and skipper Matthew Thompson 39, Rhys Stout grabbing 4-52 and Darren Leach 2-34 for the Quay.

The Deesiders could only muster 165-7 in response, Joshua Clarke and Mali Auty both making 37, captain Tom Hooson 35.

Tom Crewe claimed 3-24 off eight and Sam Thompson 2-36 for the emphatic winners by 126 runs.

NORTH ZONE 1 SEMI-FINAL

PONTBLYDDYN v BRYMBO

Pontblyddyn conceded.