TREBLE DREAM STILL POSSIBLE FOR BAY STARS
COLWYN Bay Cricket Club remain on course for an historic treble. Leading the Liverpool Competition Division One table by 56 points with six games remaining, Bay also reached the Welsh Cup final for the first time in their 91-year history last Sunday and this weekend compete in the semis of the Ray Digman Knockout Trophy.
It all points to a thrilling end to the season for Sion Morris’s side.
The highlight of last weekend saw Bay defeat holders Cardiff by four wickets at Penrhyn Avenue to qualify for the final of the Welsh Cup.
The South Walians won the toss and elected to bat, setting a modest 176 all out from 38.2 overs.
Best bowling for the hosts came from young spinner Harrison Jones, who picked up 4-37 off eight overs, while new-ball merchant Ryan Holtby scooped 3-36 from 7.2.
In response, the Bay started well with Zack Gidlow and Adam Campion putting on 54 for the second wicket.
The dominant Gidlow struck a match-winning unbeaten 81, including nine fours and a six, while Campion contributed 28 and Adam Shillcock an important 20 as the hosts made it to 182-6 with five balls to spare.
Colwyn now face either Ynysygerwn or Ammanford in the final at The Gnoll, Neath on Sunday, August 23.
Bay also nudged closer to the Division One title last Saturday when they drew at home with second-placed Rainford.
The visitors called the coin correctly and opted for first knock, reaching 82-0 before nosediving to 99-4, only to recover and post a formidable 278-7 off 55 overs, skipper Paul Farrar top-scoring with 61.
For the hosts, Campion pocketed 3-66 and Paul Jenkins 2-70, but for once it was not Samad Fallah’s day, the Indian wicket-machine returning figures of 1-82 off 16 overs.
Colwyn looked on course for another great win when Gidlow and Campion compiled 126 for the second wicket, boosting the Bay total from 30-1 to 156-1.
However, when Gidlow departed for 54, it prompted the loss of a few cheap wickets and after Campion went for 115, his highest score for the club in a 133-ball innings comprising 13 fours and three sixes, Bay were 247-7.
The table-toppers eventually finished on 256-8, meaning the points ended 9-8 to Rainford.
Nonetheless, Bay remain in command at the summit with a visit to come this Saturday to a Fleetwood Hesketh outfit they have thrashed out of sight twice already this season in the league and Digman Trophy.
The following day, Colwyn will be targeting a second end-of-season final when they host Premier Division Leigh in the semis of the Digman.
Meanwhile, Colwyn Bay seconds entertain rock-bottom Caldy this Saturday in the 2nd XI First Division with back-to-back wins in their sights.
Put into bat at Highfield last weekend, Bay chalked up 154 all out off 47.5 overs.
Colwyn had the hosts rocking on 30-5 at one point, before eventually dismissing them for 102, Sam Roberts taking 3-20, Ethan Ray 3-21 and Ross Hudson 2-11.
Bay claimed the better of the points 20-6.