DENBIGH 261-4 DEC
CONWY 125-5
(Match drawn)
TWO near centuries and nine bowlers used meant that it was a pretty lively weekend for Division One pacesetters Denbigh.
However, it was not a winning weekend for Ben Wilcox-Jones’ charges who did everything in their power to force a positive result in the top-of-the-table clash at home to second-placed Conwy.
Denbigh only batted for 45 overs, but still managed to bludgeon what looked to be a winning score.
That meant that the Ystrad Road team had 55 overs to bowl Conwy out, but the unbeaten pairing of Ed Favill and David Wilkinson kept out almost 200 deliveries to salvage a draw.
Runs have been a forte for Denbigh all season and Saturday proved no different.
Opener Gerallt Lyall has been in brilliant form, and he continued to blaze a trail versus Conwy, while number three William Affleck was also at the peak of his powers.
Both batsmen deserved centuries but the pair ended up frustratingly short of this milestone, with Lyall departing for 97 and Affleck struck 94.
These knocks gave the middle order a licence to thrill, with skipper Wilcox-Jones taking full advantage with a sparkling 44 not out from 17 deliveries.
The skipper’s innings included three fours and a trio of maximums.
Stuart Griffiths faced one delivery, but that too cleared the boundary as Denbigh declared after reaching an imposing 261-4.
Openers Shaun Davies (43) and Daniel Davies (13) began the reply in positive fashion, but once they were dismissed by Alec Lewis and Gethin Williams respectively, it turned into a damage limitation exercise for Conwy.
Wales U-16 spinner Harrison Jones took three wickets and the hosts were favourites with more than 25 overs left to bowl and five wickets left to claim.
Enter Ed Favill and David Wilkinson to drop anchor and save the day. Favill’s 33 not out came from 101 deliveries and Wilkinson faced 84 balls to end up with 13 not out.