DENBIGH 102-2

BRYMBO 100-6

A SUPERB bowling display set Denbigh up for a big weekend North Wales Cricket Club triumph.

The Ystrad Road side continues to occupy a spot in the upper reaches of the Premier Division standings on the back of a crushing eight-wicket triumph at home to Brymbo.

Denbigh were on top throughout the reduced contest, with the deluge of the week resulting in a 40 overs-per-side encounter.

The hosts did extremely well to restrict Brymbo to a rate of only two-and-a-half runs an over during their innings, while Denbigh then breezed through their reply to claim a win with almost 10 overs to spare.

Denbigh skipper Harrison Jones won the pre-match toss and he opted to spend the opening portion of the afternoon in the field.

What a sound decision this would turn out to be and Brymbo found themselves in real bother when they were reduced to a perilous 12-3.

Just three runs had been scored when the opening wicket of the contest fell.

Gareth Pugh was the batsman to depart the crease when he was bowled by Alec Lewis (1-15).

Soon after, fellow opener Mohamed Nilam Jayman was back in the pavilion when he was caught by Andy Thomas off the bowling of Jack Griffiths.

Griffiths was in the thick of the action soon afterwards when he dismissed David Blackwell and Denbigh were totally on top.

A mini recovery was supplied by a 37-run stand for the fourth wicket that was compiled by Daniel Parry and James Claybrook.

This was finally brought to an end when Parry was caught by Gerallt Lyall off the bowling of Harrison Jones (1-21).

Claybrook was the main danger at the crease and he then compiled a partnership of 30 for the fifth wicket with George Bourne.

Brymbo's star batsman was the next to leave the crease for 42 when he was trapped leg before by Stuart Griffiths (1-25).

One more wicket would fall during the innings and it was Sam Lewis (1-15) who claimed it by dismissing George Bourne for 16.

When the 40 overs drew to a close, Brymbo were on 101-6.

The leading Denbigh bowler during the early portion of the afternoon was Jack Griffiths, who finished with a 2-15 haul from his eight overs.

After tea, Denbigh knew they were almost certain to overhaul Brymbo's total, so preserving wickets was a key component to their chase.

They did lose an early wicket when opener Jon Eccles was trapped leg before by Mohamed Nilam Jayman (1-19).

However, there was no real concern surrounding the remainder of the chase.

A 67-run partnership for the second wicket pushed Denbigh to within 25 runs of success.

This fine stand was put together by opener Gerallt Lyall and Harrison Jones.

It drew to a close with the team tally on 77, with Lyall being dismissed by Daniel Parry (1-21) for 17.

Harrison Jones wasn't for shifting, though, and he finished up on a superb 60 not out as Denbigh reached a winning 102-2 in the 31st over.

Jones hit six fours and a pair of sixes to help guide his side to a comfortable 14-1 points triumph.

High-flying rivals Bangor also claimed a 14-1 victory during their weekend trip to Pwllheli.

This means that Bangor and Denbigh are tied at the top of the Premier Division standings on 89 points.

They are three points ahead of defending champions Menai Bridge, while Mochdre occupy fourth spot with 81 points.