MENAI BRIDGE 188
ST ASAPH 133-7
(Match drawn)
THE less heralded batsmen had their day in the sun as St Asaph and Menai Bridge had to be satisfied with a share of the Premier Division spoils.
Looking to bounce back to winning ways, the Saints appeared to be favourites to claim their 10th win of the campaign when they had their Anglesey hosts in a spot of bother.
The quartet of Matthew Hulse, skipper Dave North, Andrew Bellis and Paul Fleming all did the damage with the ball and it looked like Menai Bridge’s tally would be kept to manageable proportions.
Number nine and 10 Andy Skeoch and Gerallt Roberts had other ideas, however, and with contributions of 41 and 31 not out, the hosts reached a competitive 188 all out in just over 56 overs.
Hulse (3-31) and North (3-53) were the Saints’ main wicket grabbers, while there was also success for Bellis and Fleming with a couple of wickets apiece.
Faced with 53 overs to score 189 runs, St Asaph’s reply could not have got off to a much worse start as openers Trevor Bauer and Gareth Jones were quickly back in the pavilion after a combined contribution of one run.
Matthew Ryan (22), Chris Campbell (17) and Alex Gill (22) did effect a recovery of sorts, but it was ultimately left to number seven batsman William Ryan to save the day for the Denbighshire side.
Ryan was unbeaten on 47 when St Asaph’s response ran out of time on 133-7.
King of clubs for Menai Bridge was opening bowler Anthony Caddy with 3-35.