Pwllheli (181 for 9) lost to Menai Bridge (185 for 5) by 5 wickets

CHRIS Moore scored a half century for Pwllheli, but Menai Bridge turned up the heat in the sweltering conditions to extend their lead in the North Wales Premier Division with a five-wicket win.

As the heatwave continued, Pwllheli captain Michael Hughes was grateful to win the toss and bat first against table-toppers Menai Bridge at Parc Bodegroes.

Opening batsmen Swapnil Kate and Craig Edwards, however, were soon dismissed and Pwllheli found themselves at 12 runs for two wickets lost after 12 overs.

It took a watchful stand of 71 between Morgan Murray-Williams and Chris Moore to recover the situation, before Murray-Williams fell to Gerallt Roberts for 36, when caught by Jack Gower.

Skipper Michael Hughes joined Moore to put on 62 runs, before Hughes was bowled by Patrick Glover for a hard hit 32 from just 30 balls, which included 3 sixes.

Sean Reilly was out for 8, when dismissed lbw from Dion Holden, who also dismissed Owen Reilly lbw for 2, and Moore finally went for a fine 62, with 7 boundaries, when caught by Dion Holden, from the bowling of Gerallt Roberts.

Gerallt Roberts claimed two more victims in the form of Syed Aslam, who made 11, and Guto Roberts (7) to take his tally to 4 for 55, as the hosts set a target of 181 for 9 from their 50 overs at the crease.

Patrick Glover finished with 2 wickets for 31 runs from his 12 overs, which included 3 maidens, and Dion Holden had claimed 2 wickets for 40 runs from his 12 overs.

The consensus at tea was that the Pwllheli total was perhaps 50 runs short, and being a bowler down after the unfortunate late morning unavailability of all-rounder Jason Underwood, captain Hughes had to be creative with his attack.

Champions-elect Menai Bridge were watchful and, despite losing Luke Jones (11) and Jack Gower (23) to make it 58 for 2, the partnership of Dion Holden and Arwel Thomas progressed steadily to 126.

Partly inspired by calls from the crowd on the boundary, the introduction of the rarely spotted Adam Williams caused a bit of late panic from the Bridge batsmen.

He had not taken a wicket or indeed bowled a ball for three years, but his swing bowling grabbed two quick wickets, including top-scorer Holden, who smashed a full toss straight to Hughes at deep mid-on, when he had reached 65, in a knock that included 10 fours and a six.

With Guto Roberts bowling at the other end, despite having taken no wickets and no bowling for four years, Arwel Thomas was run out for 26, with the scores level, by deflecting the ball on to the stumps.

Gethin Long kept his cool to finish on 43 not out, with 8 fours, although Pwllheli grabbed a couple of unexpected late points as Bridge reached their target with the loss of 5 wickets in the 40th over.

Adam Williams was the stand out bowler taking 2 wickets for just 19 runs.

Despite losing their unbeaten home record this season, this was a spirited performance by Pwllheli, who remain in the top-half of the Premier table as Menai Bridge move further ahead at the top.

Next Saturday sees the start of the second-half of the 2018 season and Pwllheli welcome third placed Brymbo to Parc Bodegroes hoping to take revenge for their 7 wicket defeat back in April to the visitors.