BANGOR 102

DENBIGH 103-3

A BRILLIANT bowling display played its part in downing the champions.

Bangor claimed last year's North Wales Cricket League Premier Division title, but they had no answer to Denbigh's bowling attack over the weekend, with the visitors securing a superb seven-wicket success.

On a cloudy day, it was Denbigh skipper Harrison Jones who called correctly during the pre-match toss and his message back to the changing room was for his opening bowlers to get themselves limbered up.

The Gwynedd hosts were under the pump pretty much from the off and they were in all sorts of trouble when they were reduced to 39-5.

Tom Schrimshaw instigated the run out of opener David Winter for a duck when the opening wicket fell, while a run out was also the cause of the second wicket

Andy Thomas ran out the dangerous Nadeem Rehman, before two wickets from Sam Lewis and one from Stuart Griffiths (1-16) maintained Denbigh's stranglehold on the contest.

Despite the best efforts of Jonny Wells (35) and Idrees Ijaz (20), Bangor were bundled out for only 102 in the 46th over.

Sam Lewis was the star man with the ball for the visiting side, finishing up with a superb return of 5-17 in 9.1 overs.

There were also wickets for Alec Lewis (1-26) and Harrison Jones (1-22).

Denbigh's response after tea got off to a solid enough start, with openers Andy Thomas and Gerallt Lyall putting together an opening stand of 22.

This partnership came to an end when Thomas was bowled by Chris Dawson for 10.

Just five more runs had been added to the tally when captain Harrison Jones was dismissed, but Denbigh's mini wobble was rectified by Lyall and Sam Lewis, who put together a 32-run stand for the third wicket.

Lyall was eventually dismissed for 29, however the visitors then breezed to victory on the back of an unbroken fourth wicket partnership of 44.

This was compiled by Tom Schrimshaw (37 not out) and Sam Lewis (19 not out), leading Denbigh to a winning 103-3 with 18 overs to spare.