AT the start of the day Dolgellau were level on points in joint-third place with Saturday’s visitors Mold in the North Wales League division one.

Dolgellau, who had to make five changes to the team that won at Conwy, totalled 172 for 7 and then bowled Mold out for just 65 to ensure a victory by 107 runs and remain in third, 15 points clear of the visitors.

On a day when it seemed that runs were hard to come by, only the hosts’ skipper Phil Leeds managed to make a fifty.

Some good Dolgellau bowling by Mark Edmondson, Sam Williams and Jack Williamson did not allow the Mold batsman any breathing space, all 10 wickets falling as only 46 runs were scored.

After much deliberation, Dolgellau batted first and lost their first wicket at 24 in the fifth over, Eric Herbert and Leeds opening the batting.

Herbert struck four boundaries in his 17 off 17 balls, but was then well caught by the keeper George Deniz from the bowling of Jamie Ryle. At 35, Greg Smithies was also caught behind for 9, this time by the bowler Usman Butt.

There followed a good, steady partnership between Leeds and Stuart Evans, of 65 for the third wicket. The total was on 100 when Evans, who made 21, was caught in the slips by Butt off Kyran Van Der Kooij.

In the 34th over the hosts found themselves in a bit of trouble at 116 for 5, Leeds had made 56 with 6 boundaries but then fell lbw to visiting captain Richard Crane.

On the same score Edmondson was also dismissed, caught in the deep by Adrian Forster giving Richard Deniz the first of three wickets for him. Thereafter, when Dolgellau were in danger of being dismissed for a low score, Sam Williams and Sion Hughes performed a good rescue act with an alliance of 52 for the sixth wicket to take it to the final over in which two wickets went down.

Hughes hit four boundaries in his 27, dismissed lbw by Deniz, and Callum Taylor caught and bowled by Deniz when going for a big hit with just two balls left.

Iwan Kojs faced one ball to be not out along with Williams who was on 23 not out in Dolgellau’s 172 for 7 from their 50 overs.

Richard Deniz claimed 3 for 31 from 10 overs, while Ryle, Butt, Van Der Kooij and Crane had a wicket apiece.

Mold’s batting was a major disappointment to the watching crowd being all out for 65 in 32 overs.

Mark Edmondson blew away the visiting top order, taking 3 for 27 from 12 overs, four of which were maidens, with speed and accuracy.

At the other end, Sam Williams also did a good job, only giving away 21 runs from his 12 overs, and taking 2 for 21 with three maidens.

When Edmondson and Williams finished their stints, Leeds and Jack Williamson came on to keep the stranglehold on the Mold batting.

The openers Crane and Butt reached 19 without alarm, but then things went the way of the home side. Butt, 10, was caught in the slips by Edmondson off Williams, Duane Williams was castled by Edmondson, as was Crane for 11.

It became 37 for 5, Isaac Allen run out by Callum Taylor and Richard Deniz bowled by Edmondson.

The last five wickets could only muster 28 runs. Forster, caught Edmondson bowled Sam Williams; Ryle bowled by Williamson; Gareth Davies lbw to Leeds; George Deniz top-scored with 14 but was bowled by Williamson and finally keeper Eric Herbert caught John Williams to give Williamson figures of 3 for 9 from four overs. Van Der Kooij was the not out batsman and Leeds claimed 1 for 5 from four overs.

Dolgellau won by 107 runs to give them the maximum 10 points.

On Saturday, Dolgellau travel to second-placed Pwllheli. Meanwhile, the seconds welcome Pwllheli Seconds to the Marian.