Colwyn Bay advance to Welsh Cup quarters at expense of battling Denbigh

NORTH ZONE 2 FINAL

Colwyn Bay 242-7 (40) Denbigh 203-7 (40)

Will Higginson and George Johansen both produced their second big innings of the weekend as Colwyn Bay advanced to the national quarter-finals of the Welsh Cup today.

Without their talisman skipper Harrison Jones, who was on Wales duty, Denbigh put up a great battle but were unable to put enough runs on the board.

Bay won the toss and elected to bat, cracking 242-7 off 40 overs.

Higginson, a century maker in the Liverpool Competition the day before, struck 74 not out off 68 balls, including five fours and two sixes, while skipper Johansen, who hit a half-ton against Southport and Birkdale on Saturday, made 50 against Denbigh and opener Sion Morris contributed 34.

Morris and Johansen put on 71 for the second wicket, while Higginson and Jack Parry (23) added 60 for the fourth.

Keiran Lucas was the most productive visiting bowler with 3-58.

Denbigh made a good fist of it in reply, ending on 203-7 off 40.

Andy Clarke batted really well for his 60 not out off 43 balls, hitting nine fours, while opener Chris Stead impressed with 44 and there were a number of other good double-figure contributions.

Bay, who promoted a few second XI regulars for the occasion, kept the runs down sufficiently with Patrick Glover claiming 2-35 and Morris 2-57, Arthur Jones, Shay Williams and Ryan Holtby all economical and taking a wicket each.

Colwyn Bay joined Brymbo as the two North Wales quarter-finalists remaining in the competition.