HAWARDEN PARK 2NDS 220-9
BALA 220
(Match tied - 5 points apiece)
AN unbelievable tussle ended up with honours even after Bala failed to claim a run from the last five deliveries of their innings.
It was all set up to be a titanic finish, as the final over began with Bala requiring seven runs for victory, while there was just one more wicket left to fall.
The 45th over began with a bang thanks to a six from Dafydd B Jones, which brought the scores level and made Bala the red hot favourites to claim their 13th win of the season.
But four dot balls followed as the tension mounted and following the final delivery, Llion Jones was run out to ensure the game ended in a tie.
Much earlier in the day, Bala won the toss and elected to spend the opening portion of the afternoon in the field.
Jamie MacDonald (15) and skipper Tom Norris (38) got Hawarden Park off to a solid start, while the good work was continued by Harrison Ryle, who top scored with 41.
Jonathan Bellis added an undefeated 36 towards the end of the home side’s innings, which helped Hawarden Park to reach a competitive 220-9 from their 45 overs.
Irwyn Jones was the pick of the Bala attack, picking up 3-40 from 11 overs, while there was also joy for Joseph Edwards (1-31), Joe Evans (1-52) and Sion Hughes (1-58).
Bala needed some batting heroes if they were likely to get anywhere near their victory target.
Opener Rhodri Edwards certainly put his hand up to help the cause, top scoring with a magnificent 95, while Dafydd B Jones’ knock of 36 not out was vital towards the end of the visitors’ innings.
Sion Hughes (19), Geraint Jones (19) and Irwyn Jones (15) reached double figures early on to strengthen Bala hopes, but in the end the Gwynedd high-flyers had to be satisfied with five points from their efforts.
Tom Norris was the most impressive Hawarden Park bowlers, claiming 3-28 in 11 overs.
Third-placed Bala have closed the gap on promotion rivals Bodedern, who claimed just three points on Saturday after their match against Marchwiel Wrexham 2nds was abandoned after just two overs.
Bala now have 116 points, which is seven points adrift of league leaders Bodedern, while Connah’s Quay’s points tally is now up to 121.
Meanwhile, Bethesda and Llangollen were in a hurry to get elsewhere on Saturday!
The Division Four rivals shared almost 240 runs, but these came from fewer than 44 overs of playing time.
After a promising start, Bethesda were bowled out for 118 inside 25 overs.
Geraint Wyn Jones was destroyer in chief with the ball as he snapped up 5-32 in 7.5 overs.
Luke Gardner also played his part, claiming 3-22 from his stint of six overs, while there was a wicket apiece for the reliable Craig Boyle (1-26) and Arthur Jenkins (1-12).
There were few horrors for Llangollen to contend with when it was their turn to bat and it looked like they would pick up a bumper nine points.
The late dismissal of skipper Nick Austin for 37 meant that Llan had to be content with an 8-2 win, which was thanks mainly to opener Tom King’s 61 not out.