ST ASAPH 2NDS 221-4

PWLLHELI 128-7

THE super Saints have started their season in the best possible fashion.

St Asaph 2nds managed to open the North Wales Cricket League West Division campaign with a comfortable home triumph versus Pwllheli 2nds.

Everything went in favour of the home side on the day, including the fact that skipper Mark Dine won the toss.

His message back to the changing rooms was for the opening batsmen to don their pads.

Four of St Asaph's top-five were in excellent form to make sure that the hosts set a challenging total from their 40 overs.

Leading the way was Mike Thompson, who top scored with an unbeaten 54, while St Asaph were unlucky not to have two additional players making half-centuries.

Opener Ben Murphy was eventually dismissed for 48, while Joe Lunn was caught when he had reached 49.

Captain Dine added 33 to the mix as St Asaph compiled 221-4.

Kalim Al Baloshi (2-39) was the pick of Pwllheli's attack.

The Gwynedd visitors boasted the top scoring batsman on the day, with opener Neil Williams hitting 59 after tea.

There was little in the way of support, though, with Rhys Griffiths (21) and Kalim Al Baloshi (17 not out) being the only other Pwllheli batsmen to reach double figures.

When the 40 overs were up, St Asaph 2nds did well to restrict their opponents to 128-7, especially after Pwllheli had been 90-1 at one stage.

The wickets were shared by Robert Jackson (3-36), Mike Thompson (2-22) and Elliot Morris (1-23), with St Asaph grabbing the majority of the points on offer in a 14-1 split.