DENBIGH 124
LLANDUDNO 2NDS 64
(Denbigh won 21-4)
AT the midway point of their Division One tussle with Llandudno, league frontrunners Denbigh found themselves in a spot of bother.
A 42-run sixth-wicket stand between Aussie all-rounder William Affleck and skipper Ben Wilcox-Jones was the high point early on, but this couldn’t halt Denbigh’s decline as they were bowled out for 124.
However, the Ystrad Road side did well in the field and they managed to rustle up a 60-run margin of victory to remain clear at the head of the Division One pecking order.
Initially, Llandudno skipper Matt Lambe won the toss and invited Denbigh to bat first in damp conditions.
Three strikes for Andy Christian saw Denbigh reduced to 28-3 early on.
Christian took one more in his opening spell and was supported by Phil Williams opening from the other end, who bowled Tom Schrimshaw.
Overseas guest Will Affleck again showed patience and put together a partnership of 42 with skipper Ben Wilcox-Jones, who fell for 24 off 30 deliveries, bowled by Graham Boase, with the score recovered to 93-6.
Affleck fell six runs later, though, for a top contribution of 38.
A last wicket flourish between Alec Lewis and Gethin Williams took the score to 124 all out in the 47th over.
Andrew Christian claimed 5-38.
Cautious optimism flickered in the Llandudno camp over tea at the possibility of an upset for the league leaders.
However Gerallt Lyall’s third ball removed Tom Bleasdale and the opening bowler continued unchanged to take a fantastic five wickets.
Lyall was initially supported by the miserly Gethin Williams and then by Will Affleck.
The visitors collapsed from 20-1 to 42-7 after 24 overs and with 29 overs to go, their prospects of a draw looked bleak.
A battling partnership between Andy Christian and Dave Edwards looked to be on course until Edwards mishit in the 38th over with the score on 56.
The last rites were administered when Graham Boase swung lustily at a ball from Alec Lewis and was clean bowled.
Pick of the bowlers for Denbigh were Lyall (5-29), Affleck (3-15) and Lewis (2-7) to help the home side through to a 12th win of the summer.