CONNAH'S QUAY 160

DENBIGH 165

SNATCHING victory from the jaws of defeat.

That was the tale of a scintillating Saturday as far as Denbigh were concerned.

With Connah's Quay seemingly blazing a trail on their way to success, the visitors somehow turned things around to record a hugely dramatic five-run victory.

Stuart Griffiths and skipper Harrison Jones turned out to be the main stars for Denbigh, who recorded their sixth win of the season, which keeps them well in the mix for a top-half North Wales Cricket League Premier Division finish this summer.

There was no sign of the drama that was to come as Connah's Quay skipper Martin Burger won the pre-match toss and his message back to the changing room was for the home opening bowlers to get themselves limbered up.

There was early joy for Connah's Quay, with opener Gerallt Lyall being dismissed cheaply by Darren Leach (2-34).

Fellow opener Harrison Jones wasn't for shifting, though, although early support for the skipper was lacking.

While Jones top scored with a superb knock of 71, Joe Clayton (29) was the only other member of the Denbigh top-six to reach double figures.

Crucially, Stuart Griffiths added 24 into the mix batting at number eight and this helped Denbigh to reach 165 all out in 35 overs.

Joshua Clarke (3-16) and Mitchell Van Wyk (3-45) were the chief wicket grabbers for Connah's Quay.

The home side were in something of a hurry when it was their turn to take to the crease.

Openers Matthew Redinger (22) and Martin Burger (30) set the ball rolling, with number three batsman David Fox (40) continuing the good work.

A victory well inside 20 overs appeared to be the target for the home side, who were charging on at 10 runs an over for the initial dozen overs.

Crucially, Jack Griffiths (2-31) accounted for the wickets of both openers, aided by catches from Stuart Griffiths and Gerallt Lyall.

The introduction of Harrison Jones and Stuart Griffiths into the attack swung the match back in Denbigh's favour.

They send down a combined total of 19 overs, bagging an excellent 8-55 between them in the process.

The most vital wicket taken by Jones was that of top scorer Fox, helping him to gather a 4-29 return from nine overs.

Meanwhile, Griffiths didn't allow the home batsmen to settle and all of his victims were dismissed without troubling the scorers.

In an amazing finale, Griffiths took the final three wickets to fall during his 10th over, finishing up with a fantastic 4-26.

This meant that Connah's Quay were bowled out for 160 in 30 overs, leaving Denbigh to pick up an 11-4 points triumph.