North Wales Cricket League Div One – wins for Northop 2nds, Abergele, Gwersyllt, Bethesda, Hawarden and Menai

NORTH WALES CRICKET LEAGUE REPORTS JUNE 17

DIVISION ONE

Conwy (4) 197-8 Gwersyllt Park (11) 198-2

Bodlondeb is the name of Conwy’s cricket ground and also the Welsh word for contentment.

There would have been plenty of that among spectators yesterday when the home club took on Gwersyllt Park in a Division One classic.

In the end, Gwersyllt won by a single run in a corking encounter between two high-flying teams.

Put into bat, Park concocted a total of 198-2 off 45 overs.

Skipper Iroshan De Silva and fellow opener Ethan McCarthy put on 27 for the first wicket before the latter was caught and bowled by Guto Davies for nine.

De Silva and young talent Ralfie Challinor then formed a 103 partnership for the second wicket.

Challinor was also caught and bowled for 45, leading to an unbroken stand of 66 between De Silva and wicket-keeper George Miles.

De Silva finished on a patient 86 not out, while Miles struck an unbeaten 45.

In reply, Conwy slumped to 17-3 before a partnership of 57 between Daniel Davies (39) and Llywelyn Cowell (31) gave them hope.

Useful knocks by captain Jonathan Davies and Calum Jones (both 24) pushed Conwy closer to their target, but they were just unable to cross the line, ending on 197-8 off 45 overs.

Cai Pearson picked up 2-40 and Alfie Lythgoe 2-41 for Park, who edged an 11-4 verdict and spent the night in Conwy where a celebration drink or two was on the cards.

Abergele (11) 114-9 Buckley (4) 113-10

Another Division One thriller happened at Pentre Mawr where Abergele scraped a one-wicket win over visitors Buckley.

This was a low-scoring affair but nonetheless an enthralling battle.

Buckley were invited to bat and found themselves bowled out for 113 in 34.4 overs.

Danny Peover scored best with 32, Bucks having been a handy 83-2 at one stage, but no-one else could make a significant contribution.

David Moulson starred with the ball for Gele, snapping up 5-17 off 8.4 overs, while Nathan Aldridge claimed 3-37.

In response, Abergele nosedived from 57-0 to 101-9, but a last-wicket stand of 13 between Edward Rooney and Rana Das saw the hosts to 114 and victory by a single wicket.

Earlier, openers Gareth Edwards (26) and Mark Everall (21) put on a half-century stand.

Matthew Blunden was Buckley’s leading performer with the ball, scooping 5-33, Lee Taylor snapping up 2-13.

Dolgellau (1) 122-10 Northop 2nd XI 123-2 (14)

Leaders Northop are shaping into one of the best second XI’s to grace the North Wales League.

The Flintshire team romped to an eight-wicket victory at The Marian on Saturday to maintain their hold on top spot.

Dolgellau were put into bat and dismissed for 122 in 39 overs, Morgan Yorke (32) and Jaco Oosthuizen (30) the main contributors, Finn Jenkins picking up 3-34 for the away side, Darren Williams grabbing 2-10.

Northop seconds eased to 123-2 in 35, James Roberts 45 not out and Henry Dowd 36 no.

Bethesda (13) 156-4 Connah’s Quay (2) 152-10

Ioan Roberts claimed a magnificent 5-23 with the ball and Ben Parker made an excellent 52 for a Bethesda side which won in style at home to the Quay.

Calling the coin correctly and choosing to bat, the visitors were bowled out for 152, Joshua Clarke topping the chart with 45, while added to Roberts’ superb five-for for Pesda was a return of 3-37 from Kevin Evans.

The hosts took just 27.3 overs to reach 156-4, Parker’s half-century leading the charge, Nicholas Parry 40 no and Richie Parry 30, Darren Leach 3-39 for the visitors.

Hawarden Park (13) 226-5 Marchwiel and Wrexham (2) 161-10

After putting the opposition in, Marchwiel and Wrexham were left facing a stiff target which in reality they never got near.

Phil Bradfield made 52, Chris Geary 52 not out, Oliver Tyndall 36, Romano Franco 30 and Owen Skillander 26 as the Park piled up 226-5 off 45 overs, Josh Williams 2-41 for the visitors.

Marchwiel and Wrexham were then sent packing for 161, Sam Heard-Edwards 28, Williams 27 and Michael Forgrave 26, Tom Norris 3-16 and Ian Martin 2-22 for the hosts, who collected the points 13-2.

Menai Bridge 2nd XI (14) 87-2 Llay Welfare (1) 85-10

Liam Stone claimed a magical 5-15 off eight overs as Menai Bridge seconds cruised to an eight-wicket success over Llay at Tyn-y-Caeau.

Welfare were made to regret opting to bat as they were skittled out for just 85 in 33.3 overs, David Phennah best with 27, while adding to Stone’s superb analysis was Phil Smith with 2-11 from nine.

Ben Roberts cracked a commanding 58 not out as the Bridge made it to 87-2 in 24.2, Nathan Humphreys 2-25 for the Wrexham-area visitors.