Carmel & District (49) lost to Dolgellau (148 for 9) by 99 runs

DOLGELLAU’s first match of the new North Wales League division one campaign resulted in a comfortable victory at newly-promoted Carmel last weekend.

Asked to bat first on a green, damp strip, Dolgellau totalled 148 for 9 from their 50 overs, in far from ideal batting conditions, due to the overnight rain.

That score, however, proved to be enough for the visitors as Carmel were bundled out for just 49 in the 34th over.

There were three innings of note for Dolgellau, opener Sion Francis top scoring with 43, Tom Kistruck making 37 at number five and the returning Jonathan Lloyd scoring 26. Francis had to retire hurt when the total was on 26, having unfortunately edged a full toss onto an eyebrow, which resulted in a hospital visit.

He bravely resumed his innings on his return when the total was 73, before his was the fifth wicket to fall, striking a total of 5 fours in his knock of 43 runs.

Francis and Jack Williamson opened up for the visitors, the first wicket going down at 35 runs, the latter well caught by skipper Barry McGauty off the bowling of Jack Whitehouse, Lloyd having replaced the injured Francis in the middle.

Whitehouse went on to complete an excellent spell of 12 overs, 5 maidens, 1 for just 12 runs. Lloyd and Gareth Lanagan added 27 for the second wicket to move it on to 62 in 30 overs, at which Lanagan, 10, was caught at mid-wicket by Connor Hughes off slow bowler McGauty.

Two wickets went down to make it 73 for 4, one of which was Lloyd for 26 bowled by Nick Hughes. Francis joined Tom Kistruck to add 42 for the 5th wicket before the former was caught in the deep by Gwion Dafydd. Jaco Osthuizen and Marcus Cheyne both hit a six before being dismissed, the total standing at 133 for 6 wickets, with 3 overs remaining.

In the final over Kistruck was bowled by Oliver Saynor for a good 37, and Saynor went on to take a hat-trick as the later batsmen hit out, Dolgellau’s innings closing on 148 for 9 from their 50 overs.

Saynor claimed 3 for 37 from 8 overs, to go with Whitehouse’s fine spell earlier.

Connor Hughes also did some good work, claiming 1 for 33 from 11 overs while McGauty took 2 for 21 from 8 overs. Nick Hughes 1 for 26 from 9 and Ben Sim 1 for 18 also had a wicket apiece.

In reply, Carmel never managed to get out of the blocks with any success. Indeed, after 20 overs the hosts’ total stood at 21 for 5. The damage was done by opening bowlers Phil Leeds and Jaco Oosthuizen who both took advantage of some ideal bowling conditions on an unpredictable surface, some deliveries bouncing high and others keeping low.

The two bowlers sent down the first 24 overs in succession until their 12 over limit was reached. Leeds’ produced outstanding figures of 12 overs, 7 maidens, 3 for only 6 runs, and Oosthuizen claimed 2 for 21 from his 12 overs with 3 maidens.

It was 27 for 5 when spinners Sam Williams and Jack Williamson came into the attack and 9.3 overs later Carmel were all out for 49, as only number 3 batsman Gwion Dafydd made it to double figures with 15, being 7th out caught by Leeds off the bowling of Williamson who had 2 for 14 from 4.3 overs. Williams took 1 for 7 from 7 overs and there was a direct hit run out by Cheyne, a stumping by skipper Rob Humphreys and catches for Lloyd, Osthuizen and Lanagan as Dolgellau earned 14 points for their 99 run win.