Bridge extend lead in second defeat of City
NORTH Wales Cricket League Premier Division table-toppers Menai Bridge travel to second-place St Asaph this Saturday, aiming to further extend their lead at the summit.
The Anglesey side are 27 points clear of their nearest challengers after completing the double over neighbours Bangor last weekend.
A low-scoring affair on a difficult batting strip at Ty Newydd saw the citizens bowled out for just 64 after deciding to take first knock.
Left-arm spinner Ashley Wood claimed a remarkable 4-2 off 7.3 overs, Gethin Long 3-28 and Patrick Glover 2-16. Glover bowled Bangor opener Matthew Haswell with the very first ball of the match.
The Bridge did not reach the winning post without a few alarms, but made it to 65-5 from 16.5 overs for a 12-3 triumph, Long top-scoring with 27, Matt Kelly with 3-27 for the hosts.
Bangor will hope for better when they visit Pwllheli this Saturday.
First Division leaders Bethesda suffered a surprise 12-3 defeat at Llanrwst.
After putting the Rwsters into bat, Pesda must have been confident of victory after dismissing the opposition for just 145.
Number nine bat Alwyn Williams was the hosts’ lifesaver with an unbeaten 48, while, for the visitors, Kevin Evans took 3-26, Carwyn Williams 3-31, Gareth Jones 2-27 and Richard Lee Williams 2-46.
Bethesda looked to be coasting to victory when Carwyn Williams and Dewi Roberts produced an opening stand of 53.
However, after Roberts went for 14 no other away batsman reached double figures. Williams carried his bat for 64 not out as the Ogwen outfit collapsed to 110 all out.
In the 1st XI Second Division, Bodedern’s scheduled visitors Llangollen conceded, so the Anglesey side picked up an automatic 10 points.
Bangor eased to a 15-0 success at Carmel in the 2nd XI Premier Division. The nine-man hosts chose to bat first and were limited to a paltry 65-8, Aidan Kelly collecting 3-20 and Subhan Khan 2-9 for the visitors.
Bangor’s openers Ali Zaidi (35 not out) and Matthew Williams (26 no) ensured the citizens coasted to 66-0 in just 13.1 overs.
Title-chasers Menai Bridge seconds were in awesome form as they blitzed Northop seconds by 153 runs at Tyn-y-Caeau.
Invited to bat, the Anglesey team rattled up 335-6 off 45 overs, Chris Williams posting a maiden century with 101 not out, Josh Massey adding 97.
Mathew Jones then scooped 4-14 and Liam Bibby 3-40 as Northop were dismissed for 182.
Bethesda seconds thrashed Llanrwst seconds by nine wickets in the 2nd XI West Division.
Gethin Jones bagged 3-2 and Ashley Rowlands 3-3 as the Rwsters were dismantled for just 43, then Pesda breezed to 44-1 in 6.3 overs.
In the 3rd XI Sunday Division, Bangor posted 175-6 in 40 overs, Cameron Barry 50 no, Saif Ijaz 35, and then restricted Brymbo to 107, Aidan Kelly 3-7, for a 13-2 victory.
Menai Bridge thirds lost 12-3 at Carmel thirds, the islanders setting 165-9, Mathew Jones 48 and Gareth Riley 34. Then the home side reached a winning 169-6, a fruitful seventh-wicket stand seeing them home, Liam Stone nabbing 3-14 and Mathew Jones 3-29.