MENAI BRIDGE 223

ST ASAPH 145

THE Saints caused title chasing Menai Bridge a number of headaches during a tense weekend clash.

The Anglesey side were targeting victory in the tilt to defend their North Wales Cricket League Premier Division title.

However, visitors St Asaph had a shot at success during various points of the contest before theu eventually slipped to a 23-run defeat.

The toss would prove to be a vital one and it was won by Menai Bridge skipper Dion Holden, whose message back to the changing room was for the home opening batsmen to don their pads.

There was no joy initially for the visiting side.

That's because Menai Bridge openers Luke Jones and Jack Gower put together a first wicket stand of 82.

This eventually came to a halt when Jones was caught for 35 by Duncan Midgley off the bowling of Alex Baker.

All good things come to those who wait they say and the hosts slipped from 82-0 to 82-3.

Off the first ball he faced, home captain Dion Holden was trapped leg before by David North.

Then, just four deliveries later, North was in the spotlight once again when he bowled Sean O'Callaghan.

Menai Bridge had to rebuild at this point, but two more wickets from Alex Baker kept St Asaph in the box seat.

He dismissed Gethin Roberts and Jack Gower for 10 and 45 respectively.

Crucial to the eventual outcome was the display of number six batsman Robbie Jones.

He cracked an undefeated 72 from just 64 deliveries as Menai Bridge made 223 all out.

Jones' innings, which turned the contest back in favour of the hosts, included nine fours and three sixes.

Alex Baker was the pick of the St Asaph bowlers and he claimed a fine 4-45 from his 12 overs.

North ended up with a 2-26 return, while Jason Foulkes claimed 2-26.

The other wickets were shared by Mathew Ryan (1-2) and Scott Williams (1-41).

Rain meant there was a revised target of 168 for St Asaph to chase in 33 overs.

There was a quickfire beginning to the innings, with Mathew Ryan and Duncan Midgley putting together a first wicket stand of 24.

Ryan hit three fours and a couple of sixes on his way to 24, before he was trapped leg before by Gethin Roberts.

Nathanael Scott was dismissed cheaply soon after, before Midgley and skipper William Ryan took the tally through to 77.

Ryan struck 23 from just 12 deliveries prior to his dismissal by Gethin Roberts.

Midgley was the next man out after hitting 40 from 29 balls and he was another victim of Roberts, who finished up with 4-49.

Jason Foulkes (14), David North (18) and Dominic Haynes (10) helped to push the total along, but the Saints were eventually bowled out for 145 with seven deliveries of their innings remaining.

Sean O'Callaghan (3-26) and Gerallt Roberts (3-35) were also among the wickets as Menai Bridge bagged the majority of the points in an 11-4 split.