Cricket: Corwen battle hard in bid to stay up

Sep 3 2008 By Dave Jones

MARCHWIEL AND WREXHAM 145 CORWEN 116-9

NORTH WALES LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

MARCHWIEL WINNING DRAW

LAST wicket pairing John Wildman and Carl Green batted out the last 11 overs to see Corwen to a valuable draw in their quest to avoid relegation.

Marchwiel and Wrexham were invited to bat first and Corwen’s decision looked a good one when Josh Maynard bowled Mike Forgrave for a duck in his first over and then trapped Mario Swart lbw for two, leaving the hosts floundering on eight for two.

Youngsters George Forgrave (21) and the more aggressive James Hughes (48) steadied the ship with a partnership of 53, then Tim Harrison added 31 before there was a flood of wickets.

Marchwiel and Wrexham ended on 145 all out off 49 overs, Maynard finishing with a very impressive four for 27 and Simon Harrison also excelled in his three for 35, Llyr Jones adding two for 26.

Corwen were pleased with holding to the hosts to a moderate 145 and were relatively confident they could chase this score down.

Openers Kevin Sharp and Duncan Roberts started well but in the ninth over the former was caught by James Hughes for 11.

Matthew Duckworth and Roberts stabilised the innings and put on the highest partnership of the Corwen innings, 30 runs before Duckworth was bowled by Swart for 18.

Roberts fell in the next Swart over for 15 and there was then a collapse with Steve Swygart, Maynard, Harrison, Jason Jones and Llyr Jones all going cheaply.

Nathan Aldridge followed when he was well caught by Mike Forgrave for 23, leaving Corwen at the last chance saloon on 96 for nine.

Green joined Wildman at the crease with the first target being to get Corwen past 100.

Things looked dire for the visitors as there were still 11 overs to go and although Wildman has shown an excellent aptitude for batting for long periods of time Green has sometimes displayed a more fragile technique.

However, both were rock solid and put on a further 20 runs to take Corwen to 116 and a very important eight points. Swart was the pick of the home bowlers with three for 23.

It was Corwen’s eighth draw of the season alongside eight defeats and two cancelled games.

Corwen are home to Gresford this Saturday and still seek that elusive first win in division one.