North Wales Cricket League Divisions 1-4: Pesda pair hit tons, bowler Russell scoops 7-4
NORTH WALES CRICKET LEAGUE REPORTS – SATURDAY, MAY 4 AND MONDAY, MAY 6
DIVISION ONE – SATURDAY, MAY 4
Abergele (13) 98-5 Clwb Criced Conwy (2) 97-10
An unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 44 between Karl Higgins and skipper Lewis Tolond guided Abergele to an opening day victory over long-time rivals Conwy.
Put into bat, the visitors were dismissed for 97 in 37.2 overs, having been 71-0 at one stage with openers Evan Williams (36) and Shaun Davies (27) in good nick.
However, David Moulson removed both and Conwy went on to lose 10 wickets for just 26 additional runs.
Rana Das claimed 3-12, Moulson 3-17 and Tolond 2-29.
In reply, Gele were under the cosh at 54-5 before Higgins (36 not out) and Tolond (21 no) got them home for no further loss, Tom Plank 2-30 for the away side.
Bethesda (14) 227-3 Buckley (1) 140-9
Skipper Carwyn L Williams began the season in magnificent style with an unbeaten 106 in his team’s win over Buckley at Parc Villa.
Asked to bat, Pesda amassed a formidable 227-3 off their 45 allotted overs, Nicholas Parry adding 66 and sharing in a third-wicket stand of 126 with Williams.
Bucks were limited to 140-9 in response, Jack Whitley 40 and Jack Gibson 39 not out, Daniel Oshyer an impressive 4-16 off nine overs for the hosts, Craig Newey 3-28 and captain Williams 2-18.
Connah’s Quay (0) 35-10 Northop 2nd XI (15) 146-10
A nightmare start to the season for Connah’s Quay, who ended up with no points and were bowled out for a paltry 35.
Visitors Northop 2nd XI were inserted by the opposition and set a modest 146 all out, Andrew Oates 40, Darren Leach 5-26 and Mali Auty 3-41 for the hosts.
Quay were then blown away for 35 in an innings comprising six ducks, Matthew Mullarkey scooping 6-15 and Fabio Franco 4-14 for the victors.
Mold (11) 71-9 Pontblyddyn 67-9 (4)
In a low-scoring battle between two of North Wales’ most accomplished clubs, Mold scraped over the line to record a one-wicket triumph.
Invited to take first knock, Pont inched their way to just 67-9 off 40 overs, George Godwin 2-6, Jon Crane 2-8, Lewis Pringle 2-15 and Munowar Samsodien 2-19.
In response, Mold were 67-9, but got home in the 27th over, number 11 Aled Proffit’s boundary proving crucial. Thomas North topped the chart with 21.
Chris Moss grabbed 3-17, Sam Andrews 2-9 and Rhys Jones 2-16 for the visitors.
MATCHES CANCELLED
Brymbo 2nd XI (3) Halkyn (3)
Dolgellau (3) Hawarden Park (3)
DIVISION TWO – SATURDAY, MAY 4
Corwen (11) 110-10 Marchwiel and Wrexham (4) 97-10
Promoted Corwen began life back in Division Two with a winning start.
Rob Storey dominated with 54 as the home side, put into bat, were dismissed for 110, Muhammad Ghufran 3-15, Scott Lawrenson 2-7 and Sam Shoemark 2-18 doing best with the ball for the visitors.
Marchwiel and Wrexham could only muster 97 in their batting effort, Storey completing a fine match with 3-12, Steff Lloyd 2-7 and Simon Harrison 2-15.
Bangor 2nd XI (4) 88-3 St Asaph 2nd XI (11) 100-6
Opener Ben Murphy’s commanding 57 helped Saints set a winning total of 100-6 off a reduced 25 overs at Ty Newydd.
Christopher Dawson landed 3-27 and Joe Maltby 2-10 for the hosts, who were asked to field first.
Bangor fell short on 88-3 off their 25, Peter Jones 32 not out.
Pontblyddyn 2nd XI (11) 100-10 Carmel and District (4) 98-10
Veteran Dafydd Timothy turned back the clock with a magical 4-14 but it was not quite enough to secure Carmel victory at Alder Meadow.
Low totals and close finishes were a recurring theme on the opening Saturday of the season, no doubt a legacy of the wet spring and the effect on pitches endured to date.
Pont were put in and were bowled out for 100 exactly, wicket-keeper Jack Deary with a stoic 35 not out, Timothy well backed up by Ranjith Appuhamy (2-6) and Amer Jamil (2-21).
Carmel lost their last wicket on 98, Thomas Garrett 33, Christian Wrathall 2-11, David Brilley 2-14 and Ethan Roberts 2-24 for the hosts, who edged a two-run, 11-4 points verdict.
MATCHES CANCELLED
Gresford 2nd XI (3) Bersham (3)
Llanrwst (3) Llay Welfare (3)
Mochdre 2nd XI (3) Menai Bridge 2nd XI (3)
DIVISION THREE
MONDAY, MAY 6
Bethesda 2nd XI (11) 172-9 Mold 2nd XI (4) 155-9
Ben Parker scored a majestic 107 not out off 102 balls and hit seven fours and four sixes in his team’s narrow home Bank Holiday Monday success over Mold 2nds.
Parker was one of just two double-figure contributors (triple in his case) as Pesda 2nds, put into bat, notched 172-9 off 40 overs, Chris Boulton 3-20 for the visitors.
Mold were limited to 155-9, George Godwin 47 and Joseff Roberts 42, Dylan Hughes 3-25 and Sopan Patil 3-36 for the Ogwen side.
Denbigh 2nd XI (13) 68-4 Buckley 2nd XI (2) 67-10
James Thomas snapped up 6-30 and Ifan Jones 3-21 as Bucks were sent packing for just 67 at Ystrad Road.
Denbigh advanced fairly comfortably to 68-4 from 28.3 overs to collect 13 points, Mathew Edge 2-7 for the Flintshire travellers.
Gwersyllt Park 2nd XI (13) 145-10 Clwb Cricied Caernarfon (2) 73-10
Opener Cai Pearson’s 81 was the decisive score in Gwersyllt Park 2nds’ winning total of 145 all out, Rory Shaw pocketing 3-11 and Ian Morgan 3-14 for visitors Caernarfon.
The Cofis were all out for 73, Ben Griffiths 3-13 and Venumadhav Peram 3-25 for the triumphant hosts.
Halkyn 2nd XI (2) 84-10 Ruthin (13) 85-4
Dafydd Roberts led the way with 3-13 and Jonny Clayton bagged 2-8 as Halkyn 2nds were all back in the hutch for 84 at Pant Newydd after being inserted by the visitors.
Jac Evans headed the scoring with 40 as Ruthin made it to a winning 85-4.
Hawarden Park 2nd XI (13) 109-5 Connah’s Quay 2nd XI (2) 108-10
Jack Williams picked up 3-14, Haseeb Hanif Bikya 2-14 and Owen Ford 2-15 as Park rolled over Quay for 108 at Moor Lane.
Evan Shaw’s match-highest effort of 30 runs helped guide the hosts to 109-5 for a five-wicket victory, Stephen Norbury 2-11 for the Deesiders.
Pwllheli (3) 145-10 Conwy 2nd XI (12) 146-6
Division Three new boys Pwllheli suffered a losing start at home to Conwy 2nds.
With their opening day game cancelled, Pwll’s first action of 2024 saw them bowled out for 145 at Parc Bodegroes after electing to bat.
Neil Murray-Williams struck 37 for the home side, Conwy’s top men with the ball being Philip Michael Davies (3-25) and Alex Price (3-31).
Andrew Davies made 54 and Lewis Jones 53 not out in the away team’s positive response of 146-6, Murray-Williams 2-6 off seven.
SATURDAY, MAY 4
Buckley 2nd XI (2) 73-10 Mold 2nd XI (13) 75-5
Experienced campaigners Chris Boulton and Keith Embleton snared 5-14 and 3-7 respectively off eight over spells as Mold 2nds skittled out Buckley 2nds for just 73.
Opener Mathew Edge showed some good resistance for the Lane End hosts with 43.
In reply, Mold got to 75-5 to seal a 13-2 points outcome, Liam Roberts 26 not out, Abbey Mayers 2-16 for the home side.
Conwy 2nd XI (4) 118-8 Bethesda 2nd XI (11) 127-7
Vital knocks from Paul Griffith (42) and Ashley Rowlands (36) made sure Pesda posted enough runs to earn a narrow victory at Bodlondeb.
The visitors set 127-7 off 40, Philip Michael Davies Conwy’s stand-out bowler with 5-16 from eight.
Skipper Davies also concocted 31 in Conwy’s response of 118-8, Robbie Spens 3-14 and John Maloney 3-17 for the away side.
Gwersyllt Park 2nds (11) 114-9 Denbigh 2nds (4) 113-10
Another close finish on weekend one.
Asked to bat, Denbigh 2nds were all back in the pavilion for 113, Park’s Michael Griffiths 3-6 off eight, Grant Hewitt 2-8 and Ryan McCarthy 2-10.
Gwersyllt crept home on 114-9 with two balls to spare, Shashika Meistry 46 and Sean Dodd 29, Umer Farrukh 3-4 for the gallant losers.
Ruthin (15) 30-0 Connah’s Quay 2nd XI (0) 26-10
Charlie Russell’s eye-catching 7-4 off 5.5 overs was arguably the bowling performance of weekend one.
The Ruthin man did most to ensure visitors Connah’s Quay were blitzed out for a mere 26 off 20.5 overs, Jonny Clayton nabbing 2-10.
Ruthin reached 30-0 in just 4.1 overs, Jac Evans 21 no. The entire game lasted just 25 overs – one way to beat the weather!
MATCHES CANCELLED
Halkyn 2nd XI (3) Pwllheli (3)
Hawarden Park 2nd XI (3) Clwb Criced Caernarfon (3)
DIVISION FOUR
MONDAY, MAY 6
Abergele 2nd XI (11) 178-7 Corwen 2nd XI (4) 154-10
Sebin Sebastion hit a tremendous 95 not out which proved vital in his Abergele 2nd team’s win against their Corwen counterparts.
Put in by the visitors, Gele set 178-7 off 40 overs, Sonny Mellor (2-24) best for the Edeyrnion men.
Corwen’s spirited reply ended on 154, opener Kevin Sharp 34, Berwyn Thomas returning a fine 5-16 off eight for the hosts.
Carmel and District 2nd XI (1) 60-10 Hawarden Park 3rd XI (14) 63-3
A seven-wicket win for Hawarden 3rds at Pen-y-Gelli (scorecard incomplete).
Ruthin 2nd XI (1) 60-10 Bersham 2nd XI (14) 160-10
Wicket-keeper Aneesh Pattali struck a match-turning 85 in Bersham 2nds’ 100-run victory at the Memorial Fields.
The visitors were 160 all out after being inserted, Ian Goldston poaching 5-41 for the home team.
Sujeesh Vazhadan then gathered 5-12 from 5.4 as Bersham blasted Ruthin out for just 60.
MATCH ABANDONED
Dolgellau 2nd XI (3) 9-1 Mynydd Isa and Maeshafn (3) 102-10
SATURDAY, MAY 4
Bersham 2nd XI (14) 108-10 Abergele 2nd XI (1) 23-10
After posting a modest 108, Bersham 2nds went on to dismiss Abergele 2nds for a day’s lowest 23.
Only Salastine Paily (30) made any impression in Bersham’s total, Ebin Sebastian 4-24 and Anurag Singh 3-24 for the visitors.
Only extras (10) made double figures in Gele’s response, Santhu Kj claiming 4-3, Midhun Ashok 3-2 and Sujeesh Vazhadan 2-3 for the hosts.
Marchwiel and Wrexham 2nd XI (14) 187-4 Llandudno 2nd XI (1) 91-10
Darshana Sanjeewa (79) and Nick Husbands (50) put on 120 for the second wicket in one of the rare big stands of the weekend.
It proved enough to deliver Marchwiel and Wrexham 2nds a big win over Llandudno.
Tudno were dismissed for 91, Anthony Morris 4-13 and Cheyenne Walker 3-11 for the hosts.