BANGOR improved their chances of a top four North Wales Cricket League Premier Division finish thanks to a six-wicket home success over relegated Chirk.

The outgoing champions produced an accomplished display to emerge victorious with minimal fuss, and they are now just one point behind St Asaph as the pair are set to square-off at Elwy Grove Park on Saturday.

The home side made a strong start to their time in the field when Chris Dawson ousted opener Gareth Partridge for one, with Gareth Edwards running out Ollie Gough soon after for just seven.

Dawson was on hand to take out Nicholas Flack after the in-form batsman made three, before Nadeem Rehman took over proceedings with the wickets of Stevie Kelshaw (21), Wynn Jones (1), skipper Andrew Swarbrick (13) and Mark Shaw (4) on his way to figures of 4-32 from a ten-over spell.

James Carter provided some resistance but played an Edwards delivery into the hands of Dawson on 39 as the away side set a target of 123-9 from their reduced 43 overs in the middle.

The hosts’ run chase got off to a positive opening with a 30 knock from David Winter, and opening partner Idrees Ijaz was run out by Shaw after adding 35.

Things did not go as well for Sohaib Khan, who fell victim to a Billy Swarbrick strike for a duck, but Rehman made a polished 30 to put them back in command before he was trapped lbw at the hands of Jones.

That was as good as it got for the visitors, with captain Robbie Marshall (17*) and Sion Evans (2*) seeing out the remainder of the innings as the home side reached their required total with nine overs to spare.

Bangor’s second unit also achieved success with a five-wicket win at Denbigh.