ST ASAPH 199-8 DEC
CONNAH’S QUAY 139
(St Asaph won by 60 runs)
THE lower order rode to the rescue to ensure it was a winning weekend for St Asaph in the Premier Division of the North Wales Cricket League.
The Saints have endured a testing time over recent weeks as they’ve slipped down the league rankings, but it all came good for them against Connah’s Quay after skipper Dave North called correctly at the toss and opted to have first use of the batting strip.
Mitchell Van Wyk was the main performer early on and the opening bowler accounted for the wickets of St Asaph openers Gareth Jones and Trevor Bauer (13).
Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, although Chris Campbell (19) and Andrew Bellis (15) attempted to build a sizeable innings.
In the end it was left to number five William Ryan, plus lower order contributors North and Joe Clayton to make sure St Asaph had a decent total to defend.
Ryan top scored with 47, while the knocks of North and Clayton were just as important to the overall picture, scoring 35 and 46 not out batting at number eight and nine respectively.
Paul Fleming’s unbeaten 12 also played its part in helping the Saints declare on 199-8.
Connah’s Quay’s response included the only half-century of the match, but there was little in the way of support for opener Mitchell Van Wyk, who caught the eye with his 55.
The only real help offered to Van Wyk was from Ryan Holloway (36), whose innings was ended by a Paul Fleming instigated runout.
Andrew Bellis and Chris Campbell were St Asaph’s main wicket grabbers during the second half of the afternoon, claiming 3-41 and 3-23 respectively to restrict the Quay threat.
Dave North chipped in with figures of 2-33 and Fleming finished with 1-35.