DOLGELLAU were heavily beaten when they entertained second-placed Bersham in the North Wales division one on Saturday, with the gap between the sides amounting to 148 runs to the visitors.

Bersham were at full strength while the hosts were again missing players, but it is doubtful that those missing would have affected the result; Bersham have a strong first four in their batting line-up who could score runs in the Premier League.

They made a total of 234 runs between them, out of the total of 278 for 5, with Suresh Koswathage top scoring with 80.

Captain Nuwan Amarakoon hit 64, Maneesha Nissanka made an unbeaten 50 and opener Mohamed Jayman 40.

All the Dolgellau bowlers were punished, with the notable exception of veteran Phil Leeds who showed the bowlers that line and length still counts for a lot in the hurly-burly of the modern game.

Leeds bowled his 12 overs for just 21 runs, which included four maiden overs.

Jack Williams, playing his first game of the season, managed to take 3 wickets for 54 in a decent spell of swing bowling, and youngster Jason Weaver showed promise for the future, finally taking the wicket of Suresh, who had hit 13 fours in his 80.

He was caught by Dolgellau’s stand-in wicket-keeper Gareth Lanagan, who had a very good game behind the stumps, and was also captaining the side for the day.

Jack Williams claimed the scalps of Jayman, who was caught by Sion Hughes, having hit a six and 6 fours in 40; Amarakoon, caught and bowled for 64, which included a six and 8 fours, and Amith Tilakaratne, caught for 24 by Stuart Evans, who also ran out Dilan Jayawardene.

Nissanka’s undefeated 50, included 4 sixes as Bersham finished on 278 for 5.

Although nearly 300 runs were scored, Dolgellau fielded well in support of their bowlers and were eager throughout.

Dolgellau’s reply started badly as openers Sion Francis and Stuart Evans were back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, making it 0 for 2, with Bryan Walker and Amith the successful bowlers.

Dolgellau were eventually all out for 130 in 36 overs, the Hughes brothers Dafydd and Sion topping the run scoring charts.

Dafydd Hughes, at No 8, made an undefeated 26, while Sion struck 5 fours as he top scored with 33. Leeds made 24 before he was run out by a Nissanka direct hit.

Lanagan scored 14 runs, while Weaver hit Dolgellau’s only 6 in his 13. Dafydd Hughes and Weaver had an last-gasp alliance of 27 runs for the last wicket.

The best partnership for the hosts, however, saw Leeds and Sion Hughes take the Dolgellau total from 12 for 3 to 65 for 4.

The chief destroyer with the ball was Lakshan Wijesekera, who claimed an excellent 5 wickets for 53 from his 12 overs.

He was supported by Amith, with 2 for 25, and Walker, with 1 for 21 from 8 overs as Dolgellau were dismissed for 130.

Dolgellau have even more of their squad missing for their trip to Conwy on Saturday, while on Sunday Aberystwyth University Commoners will visit the Marian in the Rachel’s West Wales Conference.