DENBIGH 167

LLANDUDNO 171-2

MIDDLE order woes played their part during a losing North Wales Cricket League Premier Division weekend for Denbigh.

Harrison Jones' side had home advantage for their meeting with Llandudno and it was the visitors who were the happier of the two teams at the close of play on the back of their eight-wicket success.

There was a promising start to the Denbigh innings after the hosts were invited to bat first.

Openers Gerallt Lyall and John Lee Rowlands compiled an opening stand of 33 to get Denbigh off to a good start.

This partnership came to an end when Rowlands was run out for a quickfire 20.

While Lyall was solid with his fine knock of 53, there was not much in the way of support at the other end and none of Denbigh's middle order was able to reach double figures.

Fine displays from Tom Thornton (3-24) and Jack Rimmington (3-53) helped to reduce the home side to 62-4, 69-6 and 81-7.

A good knock from Andy Clarke (12) helped to edge Denbigh over three figures but a low total appeared to be a near certainty when Lyall was the ninth batsman out with just 115 on the board.

Thankfully for Denbigh, last pairing Stuart Griffiths and Jack Griffiths then put together the biggest partnership of the innings.

They put together a 10th wicket stand of 52 to at least give Denbigh something to bowl at.

Stuart Griffiths was unbeaten on 32 at the close, while Jack Griffiths struck 15 and Denbigh were all out for 167 in the 44th over.

Llandudno's top order clicked after team to shut the door on any hopes their opponents may have had of securing victory.

The key to the comfortable chase was a 114-run partnership for the second wicket put together by Keegan Armstrong and Matthew Jones.

Armstrong made 61 not out and Jones struck 51, before he was trapped leg before by Sam Lewis (1-49).

Jack Griffiths (1-20) was the other wicket taker as Llandudno achieved a winning 171-2.