DENBIGH 319-5

CHIRK 130

A STUNNING all-round display from Sam Lewis spearheaded a triumphant North Wales Cricket League weekend for Denbigh.

Lewis was in terrific form with both bat and ball as the Ystrad Road hosts hammered visitors Chirk by 189 runs in their Premier Division encounter on Saturday.

The star of the show for Denbigh cracked a century during the early portion of the afternoon and then bagged four wickets after tea to help his side gather their fifth victory of the summer.

It was Denbigh skipper Harrison Jones who won the pre-match toss and he elected to take the bat first option on a sweltering day.

Openers Gerallt Lyall and Jones ensured that the home side got off to a solid beginning.

The duo put together an opening stand of 46 and this would eventually come to a halt when Lyall was bowled by Andrew Swarbrick for 32.

Only a further six runs had been added to the tally when the next wicket fell.

Swarbrick was at it again to account for the wicket of John Lee Rowlands.

That would prove to be the final piece of joy for Chirk for quite a lengthy spell.

A third wicket partnership of 155 saw Denbigh take complete control of the encounter.

Harrison Jones and Sam Lewis did the damage to take the home side's tally beyond the 200 mark.

It was left to Stevie Kelshaw to finally bring an end to this stand when he managed to dismiss Jones for a superb 71.

Denbigh quickly lost another wicket and Kelshaw did the damage once again to dismiss Tom Schrimshaw.

However, Denbigh recovered from this mini-setback and a partnership of 63 for the fifth wicket edged the team total towards 300.

Lewis was the next batsman to depart the crease when he was dismissed by Swarbrick for a stunning 105.

Chirk's testing spell in the field wasn't yet at an end and an unbroken stand of 49 brought the innings to a close.

Joe Clayton was in a hurry for the hosts and his knock of 74 not out came from just 36 deliveries.

When their 50 overs were done and dusted, Denbigh had reached an imposing 319-5.

The pick of the visiting bowlers turned out to be Andrew Swarbrick (3-78) and Stevie Kelshaw (2-84).

Chirk knew they needed to score at a rate in excess of six runs an over if they were to stand a chance of reaching their victory target.

However, they were soon in all sorts of trouble during their response.

There were just two runs on the board when they lost their first wicket.

Opener Chris Pritchard was dismissed by Jack Griffiths, with the help of John Lee Rowlands' catch.

Things didn't really improve from Chirk's perspective and they were rapidly reduced to 11-3.

Doing the damage at this stage were Jack Griffiths and Andy Clarke (1-20).

A recovery was in the offing for the beleaguered visitors and their mood was improved courtesy of a 75-run stand for the fourth wicket.

This was put together by Ollie Gough and Stevie Kelshaw, and it eventually came to an end when the former was sent packing by Jack Griffiths (3-47).

That wicket broke Chirk's resistance and they would lose their final seven wickets for just 44 runs.

Kelshaw top scored with 49, while Shaun Walker (14) and Andrew Swarbrick (12) were the only two other batsman to reach double figures, with Chirk being bowled out for 130 in the 35th over.

Sam Lewis completed a superb all-round display to pick up 4-30 from just five overs, while Harrison Jones bagged (2-18), helping Denbigh to claim all 15 points that were on offer.