MOCHDRE CRICKET CLUB

1ST X1 REPORTS & SCORESHEET

JULY

SATURDAY 1ST JULY MOCHDRE v HAWARDEN PARK

A superb century by wicket-keeper/batsman Dafydd Rhys was not enough to save Mochdre from a demoralising nine wicket home defeat by Hawarden Park in Division 1 of the North Wales League. In grey and miserable conditions Mochdre were put in to bat by the visitors. Gareth Davies, 15, and Steve Jones, 12, made a solid start before the pace was picked up by Rhys and Paul Owen, whose 39 included a magnificent straight six. Dafydd Rhys' scintillating knock of 111 included 13 fours and demonstrated a welcome return to form by one of the genuine class players in North Wales. Before his dismissal by Park's Australian professional Steve Speed, 2 for 60 off 13, in the final over, he dominated a splendid partnership of 103 off 15 overs with youngster Adam Cain, 10 not out. Mochdre's total of 225 for 4 laid down a challenge to Hawarden Park which was taken up with relish. A little luck was needed in the early stages as Mochdre paceman Rob Stewart passed the outside edge on several occasions, before openers Craig Wilson, 82 not out, and Ian Rowlands, 52, established control. Mochdre badly missed the nagging medium pace of the injured Phil Leeds, and the dismissal of Rowlands by Bob Sugden, 1 for 54, failed to stem the Hawarden Park tide as no 3 batsman Guy Davies smote the flagging bowlers for an unbeaten 82, including 12 fours.

SATURDAY 8TH JULY CONNAH'S QUAY v MOCHDRE

Mochdre arrested their five match losing streak with a convincing win at Connah's Quay in Division 1 of the North Wales League. Having elected to bat, Connah's Quay were indebted to their Australian professional Guy Calgano, whose 97 off 120 balls pro pelled his side to a decent total of 188 for 9 off their 50 overs. The return from injury of all-rounder Phil Leeds, 2 for 54 off 13, improved the balance of the Mochdre attack. Together with paceman Rob Stewart, 2 for 42 off 13, they ensured that the Quay were never allowed full control despite Calgano's heroics. With half of his regular attack sunning themselves on holiday, skipper Gareth Davies was forced to call on occasional bowler Paul Owen. Despite conceding 13 off his first over, Owen came up trumps with 3 for 20 off 4 including the prize scalp of Calgano. Mochdre's reply began steadily with openers Steve Jones, 22, and Gareth Davies, 16, looking to provide a solid base. Two wickets in an over by Guy Calgano, 2 for 26 off 12, produced a precarious looking 52 for 3 before Dafydd Rhys and Phil Leeds combined for a superb 137 run match-winning stand. Rhys followed up last week's century with a gritty unbeaten 69 of 126 balls, whilst Leeds weighed in with a fluent 58 not out off 84 balls as Mochdr e cruised to a morale boosting seven wicket victory.

SATURDAY 15TH JULY MOCHDRE v GRESFORD

Sun-washed Black Marsh Field was the venue for a thrilling late evening finish as gutsy Mochdre picked up their second successive victory with a two wicket defeat of Gresford in Division 1 of the North Wales League. The most consistent aspect at Mochdre this season has been skipper Gareth Davies' inability to win the toss, and Saturday was no exception as Gresford elected to bat. The loss of two early wickets for just ten runs was offset by No. 4 Craig Hulme, whose well constructed 77 off 123 balls was the mainstay of the Gresford innings. With the exception of Gareth Rowland, 24, no other batsman offered significant support, and Hulme was the last man out as the Gresford innings closed on 154 in the forty-third over. Off-spinner Paul Colman demonstrated his developing skills with a fine spell producing 3 for 20 off 8 overs, well supported by seamer Phil Leeds with 3 for 52 off 13. Rob Stewart and Gareth Davies picked up a wicket apiece, whilst lively keeper Dafydd Rhys, with two stumpings and t wo catches, looked to be back to his best behind the stumps. Gresford's failure to bat out their full 50 overs proved to be crucial as Mochdre overcame a poor start to overtake their total in the fifth of the seven extra overs. Gresford's opening bowlers Gareth Rowland, 3 for 34, and Mike Gronnow, 2 for 29, set about their task with hostility and real pace as Mochdre were reduced to 32 for 4, Gareth Davies resisting for 17 useful runs. All-rounder Phil Leeds, 15, and young Gareth Colman set about steadying matters with a stand of 49, before Gareth was joined by brother Paul who scored a valuable 16 as they added a further 39 together. Gareth Colman was eventually out for 49 with the total five short of victory, a match-winning innings of 132 balls and lasting a little under 3 hours, and which demonstrated determination and skill in equal measure. Despite the fall of two late wickets to give the visitors hope, the cliffhanger was settled by Rob Stewart, who whacked two successive boundaries to clinch a hard fought victory.

G. COLMAN 49	P. COLMAN 3 - 20	P. LEEDS 3 - 52

SATURDAY 22ND JULY NORTHOP v MOCHDRE

Mochdre clinched their third successive win in nail-biting fashion, their five wicket victory at Northop in Division 1 of the North Wales cricket league being secured on the last ball of the fiftieth over. Northop having chosen to bat, the four Mochdre bowlers used performed wi th commendable accuracy and had restricted the home side to 67 for 3 as late as the twenty ninth over. At this point the Northop innings was transformed by the arrival of No 5 batsman Dale Harley who belaboured the Mochdre attack for a rapid-fire 50 off just 33 balls including three sixes. Harley was particularly harsh on Rob Stewart, 2 for 54 off 12 overs, before Stewart gained sweet revenge, trapping the Northop slogger leg before wicket. Paul Kendrick, 34, resisted for 63 balls as intelligently varied seam bowling from Mochdre skipper Gareth Davies, 4 for 33 off 12, supported by the controlled off-spin of Paul Colman, 2 for 32 off 13, halted the Northop innings on 164. Mochdre's reply was hampered by the home side's sprightly paceman Mark Poynton who picked up all five wicket's to fall, at a cost of only 26, in his thirteen over allotment. Fortunately none of the other Northop bowlers posed any great threat and, after the usual sticky start left them on 23 for 2, Mochdre's Paul Owen and Dafydd Rhys took control with a ninety run partnership for the third wicket. Owen again demonstrated that this season he has added patience and concentration to his undoubted batting skills with a fine 55 off 107 balls, whilst Rhys contributed 39 off 80. Four wickets down and fifty runs needed has all too often been the signal for a classic Mochdre collapse, however all-rounder Phil Leeds has added steel to the middle order. With support from Gareth Colman, 12, he remained calm as the match reached its thrilling conc lusion, his winning boundary leaving him unbeaten on 31.

SATURDAY 29TH JULY MOCHDRE v GWERSYLLT

Mochdre notched up t heir fourth successive win with a convincing maximum points haul by virtue of an 114 run victory at home to bottom club Gwersyllt Park in Division 1 of the North Wales League. The game was reduced to 43 overs a side by a mid-afternoon rain shower, but this did not deter a full-strength Mochdre side. With the rare luxury of having won the toss they made first use of the wicket to flay the Gwersyllt attack for a season's high 262 for 6. Openers Gareth Davies, 56, and Steve Jones, 22, provided a solid start adding 73 for the first wicket, with Paul Owen contributing a useful 25 at No 3. The innings then took light with a blazing stand of 110 for the fourth wicket between Dafydd Rhys, 85 off 67 balls including 13 boundaries, and Phil Leeds, 43 not out at a run a ball. Sparkling shotmaking characterised the stand as runs arrived at the rate of two per minute during the second half of the innings despite the best efforts of the Gwersyllt bowlers, of whom Neil Pearson, 3 for 71, was the most succ essful. The visitors' overseas professional Moinak Sengupta offered their only glimmer of hope in the face of such a daunting target. He battled his way to 73 off 89 balls before falling victim to young left arm spinner Richie Totton, whose 4 for 20 off 5 overs was his season's best in the league. Only Colin Jones, 39, offered meaningful resistance as the remaining nine Gwersyllt batsmen together contributed a meagre 15 runs, including six ducks, in the face of fine seam bowling from skipper Gareth Davies, 4 for 27 off 11, and Phil Leeds, 2 for 42 off 13. Dafydd Rhys rounded off a fine match with two stumpings and a catch behind - all from Totton's bowling - as Gwersyllt were bowled out for 148.