AN uncharacteristic batting collapse from Menai Bridge blew the North Wales Cricket League Premier Division title race wide open.

The long-time leaders suffered a heavy 160-run reverse at rivals Brymbo, and there is now just 13 points between Dion Holden’s men and Saturday’s victors with three games remaining.

Bridge will be looking to bounce back from this setback at home to Hawarden Park on Saturday, before they close out the campaign at Denbigh and at home to Pwllheli.

The home side set a target of 229-9 from their allotted 50 overs in the middle thanks in no small part to a pair of outstanding knocks from skipper James Claybrook and young sensation Connor Davies.

Claybrook produced a number of fine strokes on his way to 82 before he was dismissed by Ashley Wood, with Davies also demonstrating his immense talent until he played a Gerallt Roberts delivery into the hands of Jack Gower on 92.

Bridge trio Roberts, Wood and overseas player Patrick Glover all claimed two wickets apiece and prevented any other home batsman making it past the teens to give them a fighting chance.

This proved to be for nothing as Ben Roberts tore through the top order with the scalps of Gower (9), Robbie Jones (0) and Gethin Roberts (0), with the same bowler also taking out Wood (0) and Gerallt Roberts (0) late on to take his impressive final figures to 5-16.

Opener Luke Jones and Holden made just eight and 11 as they were ousted from the crease by Daniel Parry and Mohamed Jayman, with Ed Gadsby (12), Dion Owen (8) and Andy Skeotch (4) all falling at the hands of Gareth Boys, who ended the day on 3-12.

This resulted in Bridge collapsing to 69 all out in what was comfortably their worst performance in the middle this season, but the fate of the title is still in their hands as the campaign draws to a close.