Colwyn Bay’s Paul Jenkins claims league career best at the age of 50

LIVERPOOL AND DISTRICT CRICKET COMPETITION REPORTS – AUGUST 6

1ST XI FIRST DIVISION

Colwyn Bay (25) 236-4 dec Fleetwood Hesketh (4) 155-10

At the age of 50 years and 179 days Colwyn Bay’s Paul Jenkins claimed career best bowling figures of 7-53 in the Liverpool Competition during Saturday’s victory over Fleetwood Hesketh.

The left-arm spinner is now on 57 league wickets for the season and just 10 short of his all-time best 67 achieved for the Bay in 2009.

This former Wales Minor Counties phenomenon has taken 1,091 wickets in the Liverpool Comp – 937 for the Bay and 154 over five seasons with Northop Hall between 1998-2002.

He is now in his 24th season in the Competition and 19th in a row with Colwyn, who he joined in 2003.

Jenkins’ previous best league figures were 7-55 playing for the Bay against Southport and Birkdale back in 2008. He has scooped 50 league victims or more in a season for Bay 10 times.

Saturday’s win against Fleetwood was a special occasion for other Colwyn players.

Sion Morris made his 500th appearance for the club, for whom he has so far amassed 13,563 runs and opener Zack Gidlow made a first team league highest score of 117. Gidlow did post 151 in an ECB National Club Competition tie against Formby back in 2015.

Bay won the toss and elected to bat, chalking up 236-4 declared off 51 overs.

The hosts were 34-3 at one stage before Gidlow and Adam Campion (73) put on 133 for the fourth wicket.

Gidlow’s century included 16 fours and a six. He was not out at the end, also sharing in an unbroken stand of 69 with Luke Russell (26 no).

Fayaz Ughradar picked up 3-45 for the visitors, who were then bowled out for 155, skipper Matthew Howard their top contributor with 37.

Jenkins’ amazing 7-53 came off 16.5 overs, Jagjit Sandhu claiming 2-57.

Bay took the spoils 25-4 and remain second in the table, 15 points behind leaders Lytham with six rounds of matches to play.

Northop Hall (3) 105-10 Lytham (25) 240-4 declared

Hall endured a home thrashing at the hands of the First Division leaders.

Richard Staines (114) and Myles Child (50) went to town on the hosts bowling, putting on 141 for the first wicket.

The Flintshire side were then blasted out for 105, Jamie Hodgson 34, Akash Vashisht 7-44 for the travellers.

1ST XI SECOND DIVISION

Prestatyn (7) 202-10 Norley Hall (25) 203-6

Despite setting a decent score of 202 after electing to bat, Prestatyn ended up beaten by their visitors from Wigan.

Sampath Perera (61), David Harris (31) and Andy Taylor (30) were the main scorers for the hosts, Harsha Rajapaksha bagging 6-61 for the away team.

Norley reached 203-6 in 43.3, Rajapaksha dominating again with 72, Perera 2-40 and Adam Tidswell 2-55 for the hosts.

2ND XI PREMIER DIVISION

Newton-le-Willows 2nd XI (4) 127-10 Colwyn Bay 2nd XI (25) 244-3

Openers Shaun Davies (77) and Harry Spillane (76) set the Bay up for victory with an opening partnership of 134.

Will Sissons (38) and Arthur Jones (30 not out) also impressed as the visitors posted a huge 244-3.

Newton were then sent packing for 127, Jamie Moorhouse 4-35, Shaun Davies 2-5 and James Jones 2-29.

2ND XI FIRST DIVISION

New Brighton 2nd XI (25) 185-2 Northop Hall 2nd XI (6) 181-10

Jack Smallwood (70) and Liam Evans-Ford (47 no) helped the Hall set a respectable total, but New Brighton knocked off the runs with no bother.

2ND XI SECOND DIVISION

Norley Hall 2nd XI (25) 202-7 dec Prestatyn 2nd XI (3) 67-10

Jaden Ablett picked up 3-45 for Prestatyn seconds, who saw their hosts rattle up a score of 202-7 declared.

The nine-man Welsh side were dismissed for just 67 in reply.