Pwllheli (153) lost to Menai Bridge (302 for 9) by 149 runs

PWLLHELI’s bowlers were put to the sword by high-flying Menai Bridge as a century from opener Jack Gower put them on track for a formidable total of 302 for 9.

The home batsmen were never up with the required were run rate in reply, and they were 153 all out in 39 overs.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first at Parc Bodegroes, openers Luke Jones and Jack Gower soon set about getting runs on the scoreboard for the visitors. Jones had hit 4 fours, before he was caught by Ben Cowper from the bowling of Chris Moore for 20, but Robbie Jones came in and joined Gower in a 137-run partnership for the second wicket.

Bridge reached 150 after 24 overs, before Robbie Jones was bowled by Morgan Murray-Williams for 38, with 3 fours, to make it 181 for 2. Soon after Gower was run out by Murray-Williams for a fine knock of 118 off 95 balls, which included 17 fours and 2 sixes, to make it 192 for 3.

Murray-Williams (2 for 46 off 12 overs, with 2 maidens) also had Sean O’Callaghan caught by Laurence Barraclough for 2, but Gethin Long and Gethin Roberts then formed a defiant stand of 60 runs for the fifth wicket.

Long was caught by Joe Metcalfe off the bowling of Iwan Moore for 32, and Roberts also went on to post 32, before he was caught by captain Murray-Williams off the bowling of Tristan Coetzee.

Murray-Williams held two more catches from the bowling Coetzee, who finished with 3 for 79 from 12 overs, but double figures from Carl Jones (15) and Matthew Jones (14 not out) took the visiting batsmen beyond 300 runs. Iwan Moore returned 2 for 75 from 12 overs, and Chris Moore 1 for 34 from 5 overs.

Pwllheli’s batsmen were unable to get fully into their stride, despite most hitting boundaries. Opener Lawrence Barraclough was caught for 12, with 2 fours, and Tristan Coetzee caught for 13, with 3 boundaries.

The pursuit of runs also saw opener Metcalfe caught for 21, with 3 fours and a six, Craig Edwards trapped lbw for 15, with 2 fours, and Morgan Murray-Williams, bowled for 22, with 2 fours.

There were also double figures for Ben Cowper (15) and Kalim Syed (19), but Pwllheli were all out for 153 in the 39th over, thanks to accurate bowling from Gethin Roberts (2 for 46 from 8 overs), Sean O’Callaghan (2 for 28 from 11 overs) and Dion Owen, who tore through the middle order to take 4 for 28 in 8 overs.