RHEWL 167-8
MARCHWIEL WREXHAM 168-6
(Marchwiel Wrexham won 23-3)
RHEWL now look to be doomed after they failed to net a positive result in the vital Division One relegation clash at Marchwiel.
Nothing less than a win would do for basement side Rhewl if they were to maintain their slender hopes of beating the drop.
But second-from-bottom Marchwiel came through the test with a four-wicket winning margin to give their survival aims a major boost.
After a testing start to their innings, Rhewl recovered sufficiently to tally a competitive 167-8 from 49 overs.
Anthony Morris (3-39), Tommy Bellis (3-48) and Darren Bettis (2-44) caused plenty of early concern for the visiting side, who found themselves on 24-4 and 61-6 at varying stages of their innings.
However a fine 84-run seventh-wicket partnership reestablished some Rhewl hope.
Skipper Jon Eccles (62) and Dave Bell (43) guided Rhewl to a decent tally, with further double figure efforts being supplied by Simon Williams (22) and Chris Shone (10).
While losing wickets regularly during their response, Marchwiel edged to only their third victory of the summer.
Spinner Rob Eccles (3-38), Duane Partelow (2-36) and Les Brophy (1-36) were the wicket takers, while star batsman for Marchwiel was Owen Ward, 66.