Alan bolsters squad – P77 BAY BOASTING MASSIVE LEAD AT TABLE PEAK
COLWYN Bay’s cricketers travel to bottom side Newton-le-Willows this Saturday with a commanding 68-point lead at the Liverpool Competition Division One summit.
Still unbeaten this season, the Bay made it eight straight victories last weekend when they defeated Prestatyn by 39 runs at Penrhyn Avenue.
Promoted to Division One this year, the visitors won the toss and invited the strong Colwyn batting line-up to take first knock.
The decision looked like it may well be justified after the hosts, who have regularly topped 200 this season, declared on a modest 190-8 off 53.2 overs.
No home batsman was able to reach 50, the highest scores provided by opener Zack Gidlow (32) and George Johansen (29).
Eight out of 10 Bay batters made double-figures, but no-one could go on and play a major innings.
Prestatyn’s Kieron New grabbed 4-79 off 20.2 overs.
As was the case with their opponents, the visitors’ top order made starts but then got out.
However, Sampath Perera was able to buck the trend, hitting 64 off 59 balls, including nine fours.
Unfortunately for Prestatyn’s overseas all-rounder, he ran out of partners and the away side were eventually all out for 151.
Perera was last to lose his wicket, bowled by Samad Fallah.
Mostly this season, it has been Indian left-armer Fallah and fellow new-ball bowler Ryan Holtby who have emerged as Bay’s chief wickettakers, but on this occasion spin won the day.
Right-armer Adam Campion claimed 4-36 off 11 overs, while ever-dependable veteran Paul Jenkins notched 3-37 from 16.
Fallah edged up to 36 league wickets with 2-57, Holtby with 1-19 off seven overs.
The points finished up 24-6 in Bay’s favour, and with secondplaced Maghull losing, the gap between the North Walians and the rest grows ever wider.
Next opponents Newton have managed to win three out of 10 matches this summer and are not too far adrift at the basement, so they may be capable of giving the leaders a test.
Colwyn Bay seconds were celebrating last Saturday after achieving their first victory of the season at the 10th attempt in 2nd XI Division One.
A 22-5 triumph at Lytham edged the Bay much nearer to hauling themselves clear of the bottom two positions.
Bay called the coin correctly and opted to bat, setting 145-9 declared off 33 overs.
Star batsman for the visitors was number three Ross Hudson, who cracked 16 fours in his innings of 76.
Only two other players made double-figures, Alex Yates pocketing 3-8 and Chris Cartmell 3-25 for the hosts.
In reply, Lytham made a decent start before their line-up crumbled and they were sent packing for just 104 in 33 overs.
Dave Wallace nabbed 4-16 off 12 overs and James Jones picked up 4-25 from six, Hudson and Josh Grant with one victim apiece.
Bay will be optimistic of making it back-to-back wins this Saturday when they welcome Newton-leWillows seconds to Penrhyn Avenue.