ST ASAPH recovered from their defeat to North Wales Cricket League Premier Division leaders Menai Bridge with a thrilling tie at Brymbo.

The Saints held their nerve in the middle in the closing stages to secure a share of the spoils, falling just one short of victory when Elliot Morris was dismissed with the final ball of the contest.

The result leaves Will Ryan’s men in fourth spot in the standings and 45 points behind Bridge ahead of their home clash with struggling Chirk on Saturday.

David North got the away side off to the best possible start when he trapped opener Gareth Pugh for a duck, but a second-wicket stand of 108 from Mahamed Jayman (50) and skipper James Claybrook put the hosts back in the ascendancy before they were both ousted by Alex Baker.

A fine spell of bowling from Danny Ryan saw him take the scalps of David Blackwell (30), Joss Roberts (35), Connor Davies (1) and Gareth Boys (15) on his way to figures of 4-33 from a six-over spell, and Baker took his tally to 3-57 with the wicket of Matthew Turner (25) late on as the home side set a target of 240-8.

Things looked extremely promising for the city side thanks to an opening partnership of 123 from Mathew Ryan and Nathanael Scott, who hit 59 and 69 respectively before they were both sent back to the pavilion by Boys.

The same bowler was also on hand to dispose of Will Ryan (14) and Duncan Midgley (19), and Jayman got in on the act with the wickets of Paul Fleming (7), Danny Ryan (2) and Baker (2) to end the day on 3-52.

Jason Foulkes’ unbeaten 39 kept his side in contention, but the all-rounder ran out of partners at the other end of the crease as they were all out for 240 from their allotted 50 overs in the middle.