A STANDOUT bowling display was the catalyst behind St Asaph’s seven-wicket home victory over Chirk.

The North Wales Cricket League Premier Division side were back to their best with the ball to give them a comfortable success, and Will Ryan’s men now sit in fourth spot ahead of their trip to Pwllheli on Saturday.

Jason Foulkes wasted no time in making an impact with the new ball, decimating the top order with the wickets of Wynn Jones (0), Ollie Gough (3), wicketkeeper James Carter (1), Jonathan Phillips (23) and Nicholas Flack (0) on his way to outstanding figures of 5-21 from a 12-over spell.

He was aided at the other end by Danny Ryan, who ended the day on 4-20 after claiming the scalps of skipper Andrew Swarbrick (31), Chris Pritchard (18), Mark Shaw (8) and Ian Thomas (0), with Ellit Morris rounding off the wickets after a fine delivery to Billy Swarbrick was caught by Duncan Midgley as the visitors were all out for 94.

Despite losing Mathew and Will Ryan early on when they were ousted from the crease by Andrew Swarbrick and Phillips on 17 and 12, a masterful half century from Nathanael Scott got the hosts over the line with minimal fuss, with the overseas star smashing 11 boundaries on his way to 52.

This proved to be the difference between the two sides, with Midgley (5*) and Foulkes (1*) saw out the remainder of the innings as the Saints reached their required total for the loss of three wickets after just 16 overs in the middle.

Ryan’s side were given a further boost with the news that long-time leaders Menai Bridge suffered a rare defeat at Llandudno, leaving the city side 33 points off the summit with five games of the season remaining.