Mochdre face Staffs in T20 championship
MOCHDRE cricketers have a big date in Staffordshire this weekend when they compete in the Nat West Club T20 Area Finals.
The Black Marsh Fields club were recently crowned North Wales T20 champions for the sixth time in seven years and on Sunday will lock horns with strong English opposition.
Gareth Goodson’s side will take on Walsall in the semi-finals at 1pm, and if they progress either hosts Stone SP or Chester Boughton Hall await in the showpiece.
Before that Mochdre will aim to stay on course for a top-three finish in the North Wales League Premier Division when they entertain St Asaph this Sat- urday (starting at 1pm).
Much-improved Saints recently won at champions Menai Bridge, although last weekend’s home loss to bottom side Northop will have done little for their confidence.
Fourth-placed Mochdre, meanwhile, were beaten at home by tabletoppers Bridge, making it back-toback reverses for Goodson’s men.
The hosts won the toss and elected to bat, Alex Davies and Will Evans putting on 44 for the first wicket before the former was dismissed for 17.
Mochdre progressed to 106-1 before Evans, who smashed a typically quickfire 67 off 52 balls, including eight fours and three sixes, was out caught.
From there it went downhill for the home side, who finished up 191 all out off 48 overs, Gareth Davies (23) and Russ Boswell (22) the next highest contributors after Evans.
Gethin Roberts did most of the damage for the Bridge with a fourwicket burst, ending up with 4-25.
Menai’s batting has been letting them down of late, but they were solid enough on this occasion as they reached 196-5 from 46.5 overs.
Opener Luke Jones was the mainstay with 59, while Chris Moore (34 not out) and skipper Robbie Jones (32) also played their part.
Evans also topped the bowling stakes for the home team, collecting 3-58 off 11.5 overs, while Boswell returned an economical 2-27 from 12 overs.
The points ended up 12-3 in the champions’ favour.
It was not the best of days for Mochdre’s second team in Division Two.
Travelling to second-placed Carmel and District, the hosts opted for first knock and posted 196-5 off their 45 overs, Barry Mcgauty the chart leader with 67 runs.
Five bowlers scooped a wicket each for Mochdre, the best effort by far coming from Daniel Phillips, who claimed 1-5 off seven highly-accurate overs, which included four maidens.
The visitors could only muster 99-9 in reply, meaning they suffered a 9-1 defeat.
No-one could reach 20 for the bottom side, Kyle Brown doing best with 19, Alec Davies grabbing 3-28 and veteran Dafydd Timothy 3-33 for the Flintshire hosts.