Cricket: PWLLHELI 162-6 DOLGELLAU 101

Aug 28 2008 By Tom Simone

PWLLHELI 162-6 DOLGELLAU 101

NORTH WALES LEAGUE DIVISION TWO

WITH their three previous games falling foul to rain, this 61-run victory over promotion rivals Dolgellau on Monday took Pwllheli back into second position in division two and sets up an exciting end to the 2008 season.

Only nine points now separate the top four with two going up and with just three weekends remaining it is likely the promotion battle will go down to the wire.

Bersham still lead on 110 points, Pwllheli and Dolgellau both have 107 and outsiders Bangor 2nds are back on 101. With none of their final three opponents in the top five, Pwll must have a great chance of clinching one of the two elevation spots.

Remaining key games:

Aug 30 – Bangor 2nds v Carmel, Dolgellau v Bersham, Northop 2nds v Pwllheli.

Sep 6 – Bersham v Northop 2nds, Conwy v Dolgellau, St Asaph 2nds v Bangor 2nds.

Sep 7 – Pwllheli v Abergele.

Sep 13 – Abergele v Bersham, Dolgellau v Carmel, Halkyn v Pwllheli.

Being asked to bat first by the visitors at an overcast Parc Bodegroes on Monday, Pwllheli were pleased to score 162 for six from 45 overs.

A stand of 75 for the second wicket, with Neil Williams scoring 48 and Nadeem Rehman 38, was crucial, Chris Moore (23) and Paul Gower (28) adding useful later runs.

Phil Leeds and Tomos Slattery started cautiously in Dolgellau’s reply against the accurate medium pace of Chris Moore and Richie Qureshi before skipper Mike Hughes took both the openers’ scalps in quick succession to leave the visitors 35 for two in the 20th over.

Hughes went on to snare four for 26 and Rehman four for 21 as Dolgellau fell short at 101.

With Bersham and Bangor suffering shock defeats on Monday it was a good weekend for Pwllheli.

RUTHIN (3) 49-1 PWLLHELI (3) 152-7

MATCH ABANDONED – RAIN

For the third match in a row, this wet summer weather prevented a result for a frustrated Pwllheli team. After the previous week’s washout against Bangor when on the verge of victory, this encounter at Ruthin was turning into a close run affair when the heavens opened at 5pm to turn the ground into a quagmire.

At that point Ruthin were making a good reply at 49 for one off 22 overs as they chased Pwllheli’s total of 152.

Ben Jones with 46 and Neil Williams (39) had earlier added 83 for the first wicket, Nadeem Rehman posting 27, with Owen Hughes grabbing four wickets for the home side.

Ruthin’s response was cut short by rain in what could have been a close finish.