P46 Bridge on right path as champs Bangor battered
MENAI Bridge overcame a big hurdle when they hammered North Wales Cricket League Premier Division champions Bangor by 157 runs last weekend.
This Saturday the Anglesey side face another major obstacle when they take on fellow fast starters St Asaph at Tyn-y-Caeau.
Saints moved level on points with Bridge at the summit last Sunday, despite losing narrowly at Denbigh.
The first Menai v Bangor derby of the season last Saturday was expected to be a close one, however it ended up anything but.
The 2014 and 2015 title winners Bridge won the toss and decided to bat on their home wicket.
And their innings was totally dominated by opener Luke Jones, who scored 110 in his team’s total of 243-9 off 50 overs.
Jones’ knock came off just 122 balls and included 14 fours and three sixes. No other Menai batsman reached 20 with the next highest score extras on 24.
For the visitors, Waleed Idrees snapped up 4-55 and new overseas bowler Matt Kelly 3-33 from 12 overs.
Bangor’s batting was a disaster from the moment they lost chief providers David Winter, Nadeem Rehman and skipper Robbie Marshall with just 11 on the board.
The away side were eventually all out for 86, only tail-ender Gareth W Edwards (27 not out) saving them from an even worse fate.
Gerallt Roberts picked up 4-30, Patrick Glover 3-19 and Ashley Wood 2-13 from 12 overs for the hosts, who claimed the points 15-0.
Bangor will welcome Pwllheli to Ty Newydd this Saturday.
Bethesda remain in command at the Division One summit, although their third successive win was not as comfortable as the previous two.
Pesda won the toss at Pontblyddyn and elected to bat, but were bowled out for just 118, Nicholas Parry by far the most successful batsman with 51.
No-one else managed double figures, with extras the next top scorer on 38.
The visitors managed to turn things around with the ball, dismissing Pont for 91 having had them 39-7 at one stage.
Matthew Harrington scooped 3-19, Carwyn Williams 2-9 off 12 overs, Gareth Jones 2-24 and Richard Lee Williams 2-39 in a 12-3 victory.
Saif Ijaz and Nigel Barry posted vital half-tons in Bangor’s six-wicket success against Buckley in the 2nd XI Premier Division.
Put into bat, Bucks set 151-6 off 45 overs, Aidan Kelly collecting 3-19 for the hosts.
In reply, the citizens were 29-2 before Ijaz (56) and Barry (51) turned the game with a third-wicket stand of 107. Bangor took the points 12-3.
In the 2nd XI West Division, Bethesda were removed for a paltry 33 by St Asaph, who went on to reach 37-1 to seal a 14-1 victory. The whole match lasted just 23 overs.