A STANDOUT bowling display from Usman Butt condemned Abergele to a six-wicket defeat at North Wales Cricket League Division One strugglers Mold.

The talented bowler put Gele to the sword early on by taking out openers Ben Garnett and Wasim Ali for a pair of ducks, and he continued his fine form with the wickets of Karl Higgins (4) and David Williams (18) to give the away side a mountain to climb following the opening exchanges.

David Moulson provided some much-needed stability in the middle but was ousted by Richard Deniz after making 63, before Butt continued his relentless run of wickets by dismissing skipper Ed Rooney (1), Tom Sharp (0), Dylan Davies (0) and Joe Roberts (0) to end a blistering ten-over spell with figures of 8-36.

Double figure scores from Nalin Wadhwa (13) and Kyle Walker (12*) brought some respectability to the away side’s overall total late on as they were all out for 122 from their 40 overs at the crease.

Garnett and Walker tried to make a fight of things in the field and took out the opening duo of Richard Crane and Butt for 20 apiece, and Rooney also got in on the act with the wickets of Duane Williams (28) and George Denis (8) on his way to 2-21 from five overs.

That was as good as it got for Gele, with Wes Gillam finishing unbeaten on 22 as they reached their required target for the loss of four wickets after just 25 overs of play.

Rooney’s men now sit in the drop zone following the defeat, and they travel to Pontblyddyn on Saturday looking to get back to winning ways.