Cricket: Prestatyn's Indian professional arrives at last

Jun 3 2009

PRESTATYN Cricket Club hope to finally be able to field their Indian professional Maripuri Suresh for this Saturday’s Liverpool Competition Premier Division clash with Fleetwood Hesketh at Beach Close.

The North Wales club have had to wait close on two months to secure a passport for the all- rounder due to the tightening of immigration laws.

In the meantime Prestatyn have endured a nightmare start to the campaign which has left them winless and bottom of the Premier.

On top of the Suresh delay, seven top-line batsman have been unavailable this term and the club has been forced to field several young prospects ahead of schedule.

Chairman Tony Young said: "We’ve struggled, but we’ve got to look at it from the point of view that the youngsters will benefit in the long run from having played Premier Division cricket – even if they don’t realise it now.

"Hopefully, Puri (Suresh’s nickname) will make a big impact for us and lead us to winning ways."

Prestatyn certainly showed vast improvement on Saturday when they were involved in an 8-7 losing draw at Newton-le-Willows which could easily have been a win.

The visitors batted for 59 overs to make 197-8 declared, Russ Walker starring with 97 not out.

At 168-6 with 10 overs left, Newton looked certs for victory but a tremendous four-wicket spell from Richard Williams (4- 53) and 2-29 from Mitch van Wyk turned the screw.

DENBIGH were involved in a remarkable tie (20-13) with Gresford in Division One of the North Wales League.

Ben Wilcox-Jones hit 54 not out and Stuart Griffiths 41 as Denbigh set 195-6 declared and the Colliers ended on 195-9, Harrison Jones 4-36.

RHEWL lost a four-wicket verdict (24-4) at Northop, also in Division One.

The Vale villagers posted 134, Jon Eccles 35, and the Flintshiremen replied with 135-6, Eccles 2-18.

There was a seven-wicket reverse for CORWEN at home to Halkyn in Division Two, 155-6 playing 156-3.

Huw Watson made 34 not out and Will Roberts 32 for the hosts, with Roberts also their top bowler (2-38).

Stephen Bryan Jones’ 69 was not sufficient to save Ruthin from a thrilling two-wicket defeat to Anglesey Aluminium. Ruthin made 177 and AA 178-8, Llyr Williams 4-51, Adam Robson 3-38.