LLANDUDNO 114

ST ASAPH 145-9

AT the midway point of their trip to Llandudno, there appeared to be little hope that St Asaph would celebrate the opening day with a victory.

However, a superb bowling display ensured the visitors claimed the spoils in this Premier Division encounter.

On a glorious day, it was St Asaph skipper Mathew Ryan who called correctly during the pre-match toss and he opted to bat first.

Ryan and fellow opener Duncan Midgley put together a first wicket partnership of 19 and this came to an end when Ryan was dismissed by Dan Evans.

Midgley was soon following his skipper back to the pavilion as he was then trapped leg before by Jack Rimmington for 14.

St Asaph needed to rebuild their innings at this point and Nathanael Scott and William Ryan managed to compile a 29-run stand for the third wicket.

However, the visitors' task became trickier when Ryan was dismissed by Tom Thornton.

St Asaph were beginning partnerships in promising fashion, but the stands at this stage weren't enough to take the contest by the scruff of the neck.

A 22-run stand for the fourth wicket came to a halt when Scott was out for 23 and Mathew Jones claimed this wicket.

The biggest partnership of the innings came for the fifth wicket.

Daniel Williams and David Lloyd put together this stand to take the visitors' total beyond three figures.

Lloyd would eventually depart for 10 and this sparked a purple patch for Llandudno, who claimed four wickets for just 12 runs.

Daniel Williams compiled a fine knock of 43, but St Asaph looked certain to be bowled out cheaply.

That's until Liam Moores and Elliot Morris put together an unbroken last wicket partnership of 25 to guide their side to 145-9 from 50 overs.

Morris struck an undefeated 17 and Moores finished on 10 not out.

All of Llandudno's five bowlers claimed wickets, led by Mathew Jones (3-42), Dan Evans (2-24) and Oliver Hughes (2-37).

St Asaph required a positive spell after tea to keep themselves in the contest and this is exactly what transpired.

Llandudno were soon in some bother when they were reduced to 15-2.

Alex Baker dismissed both of the home openers cheaply, seeing Matthew Jones caught behind by Nathanael Scott and trapping Sam Rimmington leg before.

Recovery was in the offing for the home side via a 44-run partnership for the third wicket compiled by Dan Evans and Luke Kenworthy.

While Kenworthy was dismissed by Liam Moores for 21, Llandudno remained in the box seat and they needed less than 70 runs for victory when they reached 80-3.

The key dismissal of Dan Evans (35) by Mathew Ryan was the turning point of the afternoon and St Asaph came roaring back into the contest.

With Llandudno losing five wickets for only 13 runs, the visitors took over the mantle of favourites.

Spearheading this astonishing recovery was Mathew Ryan, who bagged four wickets during this spell.

Jason Foulkes chipped in to claim the wicket of Andrew Christian and St Asaph required just a further two wickets to seal success.

A 21-run partnership for the ninth wicket did improve Llandudno's mood, but the end was in sight when Mathew Ryan dismissed Tom Thornton for 16.

It was left to Alex Baker to claim the final wicket and Llandudno were all out for 114, losing their last seven wickets for only 34 runs.

Mathew Ryan was the star with the ball, claiming 5-19 from nine overs.

Alex Baker finished with 3-25 from 11 overs and the other wickets were shared by Jason Foulkes (1-29) and Liam Moores (1-12).

St Asaph picked up 12 of the 15 points on offer.