IT’S all about crash, bang, wallop in the modern game.
However, there’s still space for a disciplined innings, as demonstrated by Tom Hughes’ patient knock as Northop gained a crucial Premier Division win over Brymbo last time out.
Hughes struck 52 not out from 145 balls as Northop triumphed by five wickets to give their title aims a boost.
Brymbo skipper Dan Parry, who takes his side to Denbigh tomorrow, said: “It was one of those - they played better on the day.
“Thirty more runs and it may have been interesting. Their opening bat played really well to be fair.
“It’s things you don’t think about with one-day batsmen. Credit where credit’s due, Tom Hughes won them the game.”
Northop skipper Bart Ryan-Beswick, who is preparing for tomorrow’s trip to Llandudno, added: “It’s just worked in our favour and we had fielded and bowled well.
“Tom was incredibly disciplined and it got us over the line.”
With four matches completed, Northop and Brymbo are both well established in the top-four, although they’re slightly off the pace being set by Mochdre and defending champions St Asaph, in first and second respectively.
Brymbo sit fourth heading into the weekend and Parry is taking nothing for granted ahead of the trip to eighth-placed Denbigh.
“They have Harrison Jones, who’s a match-winner in himself,” said Parry.
“He can single-handedly win a game of cricket for any team.
“I think they have got some very good players.
“Their overseas is a very good player.
“Similar to a Jason Underwood, if they bat for 15-to-20 overs, they can get 100 themselves.”
Brymbo will back themselves in most games this year, though, and Parry stressed: “Our bowling and fielding has been pretty good all year.
“Our batting has been good, to be fair, but it was we just came unstuck on Saturday.”
Meanwhile, Ryan-Beswick won’t be taking anything for granted ahead of the contest with Llandudno, who sit at the bottom of the rankings and they’re still seeking a first victory of the season.
“They’re dangerous on their day,” he said. “The Rimmingtons are good players. We beat them comfortably last year, but you just never really know.”
Henry Dowd, Matt Mullarkey and Mark Poynton will all come into the Northop line-up tomorrow.
It’s the toughest of tasks tomorrow for Gwersyllt Park.
Following on from their triumph over Gresford, Park must now go to undefeated leaders Mochdre, the only team that has won four matches out of four in the Premier Division so far this season.
The remaining match sees Menai Bridge at home to St Asaph.
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