Cricket: Northop move toward safety in Premier Division as Pont draw

Aug 16 2012 by Alec Doyle, Flintshire Chronicle

NORTHOP’S survival hopes improved dramatically thanks to a four-run victory over mid-table St Asaph.

Opener Harry Lewis teamed up with Lloyd Hayes at number three to kick-start Northop’s innings.

Lewis made 25 and Hayes stuck around a lot longer, reaching 59 before Saints bowler Paul Fleming finally tempted him into a shot that was caught.

Northop were heading for a decent par total before bowler Mark Poynton decided to have a little flutter.

His 29 helped Northop finish with 182-8, a score to tempt St Asaph out.

It did, but thanks to talented overseas player Grove Venter making 68, the Saints ran them close.

But 3-33 from Lloyd Hayes and 3-23 from Bart Beswick helped Northop just get them out in time as Saints were stopped on 178ao.

PONTBLYDDYN just edged it at Brymbo, securing a winning draw on the road.

With the bat Pont were imperious as Mark Hughes made 47, Alistair Roberts struck 51 and Marcel Frenzel 88no on their way to 255-6dec.

But Brymbo simply went about their business after tea without fuss.

A half-century from Ben Roberts (56) and 40no from Greg King were the highlights but Pont couldn’t finish the job as Glenn Chambers took 3-23, Mark Neath 2-33 and James Birch 2-60 and Brymbo finished with 183-8.