PONTBLYDDYN 220-4
DENBIGH 222-7
(Denbigh won 22-11)
DENBIGH ended their first Premier Division season in brilliant fashion with a fine victory at high-flying Pontblyddyn.
The hosts were targeting a victory to maintain their aims of finishing the summer as runners-up, but Denbigh had other ideas as they successfully chased down 220 to record a great eighth win of the season.
That result sees Ben Wilcox-Jones’ charges end the campaign in seventh spot in the Premier Division - and the Denbigh skipper would probably have taken that before the campaign got underway way back in April.
It was Pontblyddyn skipper Mark Neath who guessed correctly during the toss and he opted to utilise his batsmen during the early portion of the afternoon.
There was some early joy for the visitors, as opening bowlers Marcus Adams (1-36) and Alec Lewis (1-29) reduced Pontblyddyn to 27-2.
But, the high-flying hosts came roaring back thanks to a 191-run third wicket stand between Glenn Chambers and Alistair Roberts.
Chambers saw things through for his side with a fabulous 111 not out, while Roberts’ contribution was 77, before he was stumped by Denbigh wicket-keeper Emyr Owen off the bowling of spinner Harrison Jones (2-51).
All of this meant that Pontblyddyn reached a very decent 220-4 from 50 overs.
Openers Gerallt Lyall (19) and Gwern Llwyd Owain (26) got the Denbigh reply off to a solid start thanks to their first wicket partnership of 44, while the good work was continued by Owain and Australian all-rounder Marcus Adams, who put on 63 for the next wicket.
Owain was the next to depart, while Adams went on to become the top scorer for Denbigh with his fine knock of 67.
A burst of wickets from Mark Neath (3-65) did give his side some renewed hope to reduce the visitors to 132-5, but the Denbigh middle order proved to be solid.
John Lee Rowlands (36), Ben Wilcox-Jones (20) and Stuart Griffiths (30) guided Denbigh over the finishing line to reach 222-7.