RUTHIN 151
DENBIGH 2NDS 154-9
(Denbigh won 6-4)
IF Denbigh 2nds are to play in Division Two next season, the closing stages of the tense win at Ruthin will have proved crucial to their success.
The Memorial Park Fields hosts were red hot favourites for the win when they reached 150-7, chasing 155 for victory.
But Ruthin lost their last three wickets for just one run as third placed Denbigh completed an amazing win, which just about keeps them in the hunt for promotion with one game left to play.
That match is at home to second placed Connah’s Quay 2nds on Saturday and a 9-1 Denbigh win will see them claim the second promotion spot ahead of their Deeside rivals.
Looking back to last weekend’s thriller, Ruthin won the toss and invited Denbigh to bat first on a drying wicket.
Several of their batsmen contributed as the visitors set a challenging 154-9 off their 45 overs.
Dafydd Lewis top scored with 36, while good support came from Jack Griffiths (28), Lee Mason (22) and Craig Stubbs (20).
For Ruthin, Matthew Duckworth took 2-15 from 12 overs and the returning Jamie Hulse grabbed 3-36.
There were also two wickets for the spin of Rhys Hughes and one wicket for pace bowler Shay Tudor.
Ruthin’s response got off to a shaky start and at one stage they were reduced to 44-4.
Dafydd Roberts remained solid, reaching 26 before falling leg before and there were also important contributions from Rhys Hilditch (23), Rhys Jones (15) and Owen Hughes (19).
Ollie Gray top scored for Ruthin with an excellent 47 before he was last man out, caught by Denbigh captain Stuart Moulden off the bowling of Chris Brown (3-30).
Sam Lewis (2-27) and Jack Griffiths (2-32) also did well, while there was a wicket each for Daniel Nixon, Andy Clarke and Moulden.
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