Cricket: Pwllheli seal back-to-back promotions – North Wales League Division Three

Hawarden Park seconds captain Haseeb Hanif Bikya in batting action at Denbigh. Picture: ROB PICKERING – MANY THANKS

Pwllheli’s Craig Edwards top-scored

Pwllheli have clinched promotion from North Wales Cricket League Division Three – and need just four more points to make it-back-to-back titles.

The Llŷn Peninsula side sealed a place in Division Two next season after an 11-4 success at Ruthin last Saturday.

Four points from their final match at Buckley seconds on September 14 will ensure the Parc Bodegroes club add the Division Three crown to the Division Four championship they lifted in 2023.

Pwllheli were in the Premier Division as recently as 2022, but the loss of numerous key players at the end of that season meant a reboot, the club relaunching in Division Four the following year.

Saturday saw Pwll visit Ruthin and were invited to bat by the hosts.

Openers Craig Edwards and Daniel Pigott scored 37 and 32 respectively, while Ben Cowper added 23 not out as the Llŷn men posted 176-6 off 40 overs, Joshua Duckworth 2-26 and Llyr Williams 2-29 for the hosts.

In reply, Ruthin were bowled out for 152, Jac Evans standing out with 74 off 73 balls, hitting nine fours and two sixes, but no-one else was able to reach 20.

Kalim Al Baloshi took 3-17, Ioan Roberts 3-35 and young Harri Evans 2-3 off 5.3 for the winning side.

Conwy 2nd XI (11) 236-5 Halkyn 2nd XI (4) 211-7

Toby Watson (65) and skipper Philip Davies (55) did most to ensure Conwy seconds set a winning 236-5 off 40 overs at Bodlondeb.

Extras totalled 40 and all seven home batsmen reached double figures, Finlay Rooke Hart 2-29 for the visitors, who were limited to 211-7.

Finlay Rooke Hart then scored a mighty 107 for the visitors – a maiden century for the youngster – while fellow opener Shaun Gibson added 42.

Ben Callow scooped 3-24 and Alex Price 3-35 for the home side.

Denbigh 2nd XI (3) 238-4 Hawarden Park 2nd XI (12) 239-6

Gerallt Lyall was in the runs for Denbigh seconds. Picture: ROB PICKERING

Luke Bennett’s maiden century guided Hawarden Park seconds to a momentous win at Denbigh seconds.

Denbigh won the toss. elected to bat, and amassed a formidable 238-4 off 40 overs, Gerallt Lyall 70, Darren Nixon 54 not out and Ciaran Lucas 31 no, Jack Williams 2-36 for Park.

In response, wicket-keeper Bennett led the charge with 108 off 99 balls, hitting 14 boundaries and a maximum, as the visitors reached a magnificent 239-6 off 39.

Skipper Haseeb Hanif Bikya added 51 in a key stand with Bennett, Martin Hinton with a vital 25 not out down the order.

Mold 2nd XI (12) 194-10 Connah’s Quay 2nd XI (3) 160-10

Opener Craig Roberts hit a crucial 63 as Mold seconds recorded a 34-run victory over Connah’s Quay seconds.

Mold chose to bat and were all out for 194, Oliver Jones’ 22 the next-highest score after Roberts, Osian Edwards 3-25 for the visitors.

Quay were dismissed for 160, despite a fine 81 from Hashmat Safi. Chris Boulton claimed a superb 5-27 for the hosts, while Roberts completed a good all-round show with 3-12.