Some stunning individual feats were achieved across Divisions One and Four of the North Wales Cricket League on Saturday.
Halkyn’s Ben Roberts produced arguably the bowling display of the season so far, taking 8-13 off 10 overs in his team’s Division Two thrashing of Llay Welfare seconds.
Tim Thompson hit a crucial 75 in Gresford seconds’ low score of 102 at Corwen, and his efforts were not in vain as the home side were bowled out for just 93 in reply.
David Holmes celebrated a maiden century for Abergele seconds, his 110 not out ensuring an emphatic win for his team against Carmel seconds.
Kamran Hassan struck 124 no and Tom King 123 no, the pair involved in a huge second-wicket stand of 259, as Llangollen caned Marchwiel and Wrexham seconds by the maximum margin in Division Four.
Today (Monday) sees one game in the Premier Division and it’s a big one – leaders Bangor home to second-place Denbigh, plus matches across divisions 2-4.
Bank Holiday Monday’s North Wales League matches
Premier Division
Bangor v Denbigh
Division Two
Buckley v Mochdre 2nds, Llay Welfare 2nds v Gresford 2nds, Menai Bridge 2nds v Halkyn, Mynydd Isa & Maeshafn v Northop 2nds.
Division Three
Abergele 2nds v Buckley 2nds, Connah’s Quay 2nds v Mold 2nds, Gwersyllt Park 2nds v Denbigh 2nds, Hawarden Park 2nds v St Asaph 2nds, Pwllheli 2nds v Mynydd Isa & Maeshafn 2nds.
Division Four
Dolgellau 2nds v Clwb Criced Caernarfon, Llandudno 2nds v Llanrwst 2nds, Ruthin 2nds v Llangollen.
Sunday action
Bangor thirds edged a narrow win at home to Menai Bridge thirds with eight balls to spare of a thrilling local derby.
This Sunday West division clash saw Bridge put into bat and set 172-9 off their 40 overs, Phil Smith by far the most impressive batsman with 98.
In reply, Bangor made it to 173-7 from 38.4 overs, skipper Andrew Savage (69) and Tomos Davies (54) with the most important knocks.
Menai’s Smith completed a great personal display with 3-34, but his team lost out 11-4.
Saturday cricket
Division One
Leaders Conwy produced a mighty display in a nine-wicket triumph at previously undefeated Dolgellau.
Skipper Rajjenu Britto scooped 3-34 off 11 overs as Dolgellau, invited to bat, were all out for 159, Mark Edmondson best with 35, before the visitors responded with 160-1 off 33.5, Shaun Davies (58) and Britto (54) sharing in an opening stand of 112. Points: 1-14.
Scott Thomas’ star knock of 80 helped Llanrwst to a six-wicket success at Bethesda.
Pesda opted to bat and were dismissed for 162, Jez Shea 38 and Jonathan Williams 36 putting on 82 for the first wicket before it all went downhill for the hosts.
Alwyn Williams snapped up 6-70 for the Rwsters.
Opener Thomas’ 80 and 38 from Huw Williams helped guide the visitors to a winning 163-4 off 35.5 overs, Richard Lee Williams 3-39 for the home team. Points: 2-13.
John Crane snared 5-7 off 12 overs as Carmel were rolled over for just 40 at home to Mold, who hit back with 42-0 for a 15-0 verdict.
Gwersyllt Park posted 208-9 at Hawarden Park after winning the toss, Scott Watkins 47, George Miles 35 and skipper Lee Beer 34, David Hughes 4-28 for the hosts who were bowled out for 118, the outstanding Hughes carrying his bat for an unbeaten 70, Neil Pearson 4-44 and Matthew Scott 3-23 for Gwersyllt. Points: 1-14.
On a great day for away teams in Division One, another travelling side, Abergele won by just seven runs at second-place Llay Welfare.
Gele made a modest 146 all out, Mike Thompson 43, Nathan Humphreys 3-11 for the hosts, who were then sent packing for 139, Karl Higgins with a match-clinching 5-14 for Abergele. Points: 4-11.
Jac Evans impressed with 83 as Ruthin set a massive 280-9 at home to Bersham, William Jones 48 and Sion Hughes 46, Tim Jones 3-44 for the visitors, who were blitzed out for a mere 79, Harry Pooler 5-25 for the 15-0 victors.
Division Two
Table-toppers Buckley triumphed by seven wickets at Marchwiel and Wrexham.
The hosts could only muster 103-9, William Norman 3-29, Samuel Edwards 2-11, Adam Shaw 2-17 and the ultra-accurate Louis Parry 1-2 off six overs for Bucks, who responded with 104-3 for a 13-2 success, Samuel Edwards (40) and Rocco Franco (22) with an opening stand of 65.
Ben Roberts claimed a stunning 8-13 off 10 overs as Halkyn destroyed Llay Welfare 2nds by eight wickets at Pant Newydd.
Welfare were all out for 97, helped by a defiant 29 from emergency No11 Mike Phennah, then second-place Halkyn breezed to 101-2, Roberts completing a game to remember with 39. Points: 14-1.
Tim Thompson was the shining light with 75 as visitors Gresford 2nds were bowled out for just 102 at Corwen, the innings otherwise featuring seven ducks. William Pooler grabbed 3-18 and Simon Harrison 3-22 for the hosts.
Owain Walker then pocketed 4-3 and Henry Soper 4-25 as Gresford shot out the hosts for 93, Kevin Sharp’s 45 not enough. Points: 4-11.
Phil Bradfield’s brilliant 95 in Mynydd Isa and Maeshafn‘s total of 170 all out was not sufficient to save his team from defeat against visitors Bangor seconds. Saif Ijaz was Bangor’s finest bowler with 3-29.
The Citizens reached 172-6 with just three balls left, Peter Jones 47 and Chris Foreman 43. Points: 3-12.
Number seven bat Nathan Pierce’s super effort of 70 helped Northop 2nds set a match-sealing 211-7 against Menai Bridge 2nds.
Leo Grieg added 31 for the hosts, Blake Thomas 3-47 for the islanders, who were limited to 146-8, Shaun Whitley 38. Points: 13-2.
Division Three
David Holmes struck 110 not out in Abergele 2nds‘ mammoth score of 288-5 against Carmel 2nds at Pentre Mawr Park.
It was a maiden ton for Holmes, with Ben Garnett adding 84 for the hosts.
Carmel were then blown away for just 37, Joe Roberts 4-10 and Berwyn Thomas 3-7 for Gele in a 15-0 whitewash.
Pontblyddyn 2nds amassed 285-6 at Connah’s Quay 2nds, Gethin Thomas smashing 115, and the hosts were restricted to 167-9, Liam Jones 55 before retiring hurt, Ben Wiggs 3-23 for the visitors, who took a 15-0 points decision.
Mynydd Isa and Maeshafn seconds had just seven players for their trip to Denbigh seconds and made 104-6, Stanley Houghton 41, Ifan Jones 3-11, then the second-placed away side skipped to 105-5 in 15 overs, Gethin Williams 45. Points: 13-2.
Alyn Evans top-scored with 45 as Buckley seconds posted a moderate 126-9 at Gwersyllt Park seconds, Jack Watkins 3-19, then the hosts eased to 127-1 in just 20.1 overs, Dominic Mitchell 58 and Ryan Collier 52 no in a 14-1 success.
George Jones took centre stage with 72 no for table-toppers Mold 2nds in their formidable 232-6 off 45 overs at home to Hawarden Park seconds, Max Lloyd 41, then the visitors perished to 76 all out in 22, Craig Roberts 3-3, Keith Embleton 3-22. Points: 15-0.
Pwllheli seconds set 197-9 against St Asaph seconds, Kalim Al Baloshi 82 no for the Llyn hosts, Ben Cowper 31, John Lloyd-Williams 3-44 for Saints, who reached 199-5 for a five-wicket triumph (no individual scores supplied). Points: 3-12.
Division Four
Divisional leaders Conwy seconds swept aside Dolgellau seconds by seven wickets at Bodlondeb.
Aled Owen made a battling 59 not out in the away side’s innings of 131-9, Nick Davies 3-20 and David Owen 3-36 for the hosts, who replied with 132-3, Andrew Davies 47 no, Ed Favill 35. Points: 13-2.
Grant Peisley collected 4-13 as Caernarfon dismissed nine-player Halkyn seconds for 62, then the Cofis comfortably reached 63-3, skipper Huw Erddyn Davies 20. Points: 13-2.
Runs galore at Llangollen, who were put into bat by Marchwiel and Wrexham seconds and piled up 276-1 in 40 overs.
Kamran Hassan struck 124 no and Tom King 123 no, the pair involved in a huge second-wicket stand of 259.
The visitors batted out their 40 overs, but managed just 68-7, Llangollen using eight bowlers. Points: 15-0.
Llanrwst seconds were skittled out for 83 at home to Bethesda seconds, Craig Jeffreys 4-22 and John Maloney 3-13 for the Ogwen side, who got home on 84-6, skipper Chris Hobby 23 no. Points: 3-12.
Sgôr - Dave Jones’ North Wales Sports Blog 