DOLGELLAU started their new campaign in the North Wales League division one with a comfortable win by 178 runs at newly-promoted Gwersyllt Park on Saturday.

Winning the toss and batting first, Dolgellau notched up 295 for 7, with South African Eric Herbert, on his debut, making a century off just 59 balls and captain Phil Leeds scoring 71. Gwersyllt replied with 117 all out in 35.5 overs, Leeds 4 for 23 doing the bulk of the damage.

Leeds and Geraint Jones, formerly of Bala CC, opened for the visitors and had a partnership of 47 in 9 overs, before Jones was caught behind by Bennett from the bowling of Dale Jones, after striking 3 fours in his 26.

The following 22 overs saw a stand of 146 runs for the second wicket between Herbert and Leeds. Herbert hit 92 of his runs in boundaries, striking 10 sixes and 8 fours, as the ball sailed to all parts of the ground; his first 50 coming up off 38 deliveries and his second 50 off just 21 balls, being eventually caught by Dominic Mitchell, the bowler Jack Collier, for a pugnacious 107 from 61 balls in the 31st over.

Collier had a second wicket, bowling Stuart Evans, Leeds meanwhile reaching his 50 off 89 balls and he was on 71 when Mitchell took another catch, Da Silva the bowler. Leeds included 7 boundaries in his 71, batting through 40 overs.

Dolgellau added 58 more runs from the last 10 overs, number five bat Sam Williams contributing a good 42 from 48 balls with 5 boundaries. Rob Humphreys was adjudged lbw to Da Silva, and at 258, Jack Mynard was bowled by Da Silva.

Richard Rees joined Williams and together they batted until the final ball of the innings, Williams, 42 caught by S. Dodd giving Da Silva a fourth wicket, after an alliance of 37 for the 7th wicket. Rees was unbeaten on 14 as they closed on 295 for 7.

Nilanka Da Silva had 7 overs, claiming 4 wickets for 27, Collier took 2 wickets for 48 and Jones had 1 for 58.

When Gwersyllt batted, opener Wijisekara, their new Sri Lankan acquisition, stayed at the cease for 33 overs, hitting 11 fours in a very good knock of 70.

The only other batsman to reach double figures was Collier who made 12 runs, as the hosts were bowled out for 117 in the 36th over.

Herbert and Sam Williams opened the bowling for the visitors, Herbert claiming 2 for 17 from his 8 overs.

Leeds took 2 wickets in his first over and finished with 4 wickets for 23 from 9 overs, while spinner Jack Williamson, on debut, pocketed 2 for 9 including the wicket of Wijisekara stumped by Humphreys for his 70.

Jason Weaver had 1 for 30 and held a catch to dismiss Collier. To complete the formalities Humphreys caught Bell off Williamson and Jones was run out by Leeds, skipper Phil Huckridge being the not out batsman.