Dolgellau (133) lost to Pontblyddyn (247 for 5) by 114 runs

DOLGELLAU suffered another defeat in the North Wales division one on Saturday, and this time the margin of defeat was 114 runs, even though the game was shortened to 35 overs each due to rain, which delayed the start for 105 minutes.

Visiting Pontblyddyn decided to bat first at the Marian and they scored at over seven an over to notch up 247 for 5. Dolgellau, in reply, batted until 33.3 overs, but could only reach 133 all out.

Dolgellau are currently 18 points away from the drop zone, sitting 11th of 12 places after eight games, and need to start winning if they are to prevent relegation to division two, with three teams to be demoted this season.

Pontblyddyn lost a wicket at 24, with Alistair Roberts caught by wicketkeeper Rob Humphreys off the bowling of Mark Edmondson for 13.

The total was 50 for 1 from 10 overs when Edmondson had to be removed from the bowling attack, having bowled two no-balls over waist high, having only had 5 of his allowance of 8 overs; and controlling the wet ball being a contributing factor.

Opener Ben Mason, together with number three Chris Moss, stayed together until the 18th over, adding 80 runs for the second wicket, with Mason taking advantage of being dropped off the bowling of Jaco Oosthuizen early in his innings.

At 104, Moss was bowled round his legs by Greg Smithies, but not before striking 2 sixes and 6 fours in making 57 off 47 deliveries.

Mason and George Forgrave put on 65 in 10 overs, the latter hitting a six and a four in his 23, until he was well caught on the boundary by skipper Phil Leeds, the bowler being Sam Williams.

Visiting captain James Birch joined Mason taking it past the 200 mark. Mason reached his fifty in 63 balls and was on 82 from 92 balls when he was caught by Jack Williamson, Oosthuizen getting his wicket eventually.

Mason had struck a total of 6 boundaries in his 82.

It was 241 for 5, when Tom Dawson was bowled by Williams for 28 with 5 fours, and it was 247 for 5 when the 35 overs were completed, with Birch being 16 not out and Richard Davies 6 not out.

Sam Williams had 2 wickets for 62 from 8 overs, Edmondson 1 for 19 from 5, Oosthuizen 1 for 32 from 5 and Smithies 1 for 46 from 7.

Leeds bowled a total of 8 overs for 57 and Jason Weaver 2 overs for 21 at the end.

Dolgellau started brightly as stand in openers Humphreys and Smithies put on 46 in 10 overs, Smithies being the aggressor hitting 9 fours in his 40 before he was deceived by slow bowler Angus Reckord and bowled, having faced 34 balls.

The first six batsmen managed to reach double figures, but a mid-innings collapse saw Forgrave take 3 wickets in 4 balls in the same over as 111 for 3 became 111 for 6.

With the total on 69, Humphreys played on giving Forgrave his first wicket in the 17th over having made 12. Oosthuizen was caught and bowled by Forgrave for 16 at 76 before those 3 wickets went down on 111.

Edmondson hit a six and a four in 23 being caught by Moss, Leeds was bowled for 13, the batsmen having crossed, and Williams was held in the slips by Dawson, giving Forgrave his fifth wicket, having taken five of the first six wickets to fall.

The home team could only muster another 22 runs for the loss of the last 4 wickets, finishing on 133 with 9 deliveries left, with Williamson being 11 not out and Niki Williams hitting 2 fours.

Forgrave claimed 5 for 28 from 8 overs, Birch had 1 for 28 from 8 and Reckord 1 for 31 from 8. Mason and Gethin Thomas had a wicket each at the end while Dawson had a run out and Birch, Thomas and David Foulkes had a catch apiece as their side claimed a won by 114 runs.

• Dolgellau Seconds lost heavily at league leaders St Asaph Seconds in the Seconds Division West, scoring just 27 in reply to 238 for 6.

The match balls were sponsored by Cyngor Tref Dolgellau and Gareth Lanagan.