CORWEN 201-5

HALKYN 160

A SUPERB all-round showing from Nathan Aldridge has fired Corwen to their first North Wales Cricket League victory on the field of play this season.

The War Memorial Park side had been awarded one victory ahead of the weekend after the cancellation of a match and a sparkling ton from Aldridge saw them see off the challenge of Halkyn in a Division Two clash.

Corwen were invited to make first use of the batting track after they lost the toss.

This didn't appear to be the worst of decisions from the visiting side, who soon picked up an early wicket.

However, this brought Nathan Aldridge to the crease and he set about dismantling the opposition attack.

Aldridge cracked a brilliant knock of 124, which helped Corwen to make a challenging 201-5 from their 45 overs at the crease.

Good support was supplied from the direction of Kamran Hassan (25), Simon Harrison (15 not out) and Nathan Murray (12 not out).

James Beresford (2-21) and Graeme Settle (2-41) were the pick of the visiting bowlers during the early portion of the afternoon.

A number of Halkyn batsmen enjoyed decent starts to their innings when it was the turn of the visitors to take to the crease.

Shaun Gibson (45), James Beresford (23) and Paul Rutherford (21) looked to be in good form, but nobody was able to go on and contribute a match-winning effort.

Lower order batsmen and Daniel Williams (19 not out) and Mason Andrews (16) were in good form to guide Halkyn to 160 all out in the 39th over.

A trio of Corwen bowlers picked up three wickets apiece.

Aldridge concluded his brilliant day with figures of 3-17, while Simon Harrison was hugely economical to grab 3-20 in 10 overs.

Iestyn Wheeler snapped up 3-27, while the remaining wicket to fall went the way of Scott Kearns (1-40).

Another impressive feature was the fact Corwen conceded only eight extras on their way to a 12-3 points victory.