A SENSATIONAL bowling display from David Moulson and Owen Lynam failed to prevent Abergele from falling to a one-wicket home loss to Ruthin.

The bowling tandem almost secured an unlikely victory at Pentre Mawr Park despite a lacklustre batting performance from Karl Higgins’ side, but the newly promoted outfit held their nerve in the closing stages to get themselves over the line.

This leaves Gele second-from bottom of the North Wales Cricket League Division One standings ahead of their tricky trip to promotion hopefuls Dolgellau on Saturday.

Things did not begin well at the crease for the home side, with Harry Pooler taking out the opening partnership of Ben Garnett and Moulson for ten and eight respectively.

Higgins lasted just five deliveries on his way to one, and middle order batsmen Lewis Tolond (2), Josh Lloyd (4), and Jain Sebastien (0) all failing to impact the scoreboard in a positive way.

Mike Thompson was the only home batsman to emerge from the game with any credit, but he was ousted on 18 from 52 deliveries as they set a target of just 82 all out.

Pooler was the pick of the visiting bowling attack, claiming four wickets for the loss of 27 runs, with Llyr Williams helping himself to three scalps at the expense of 13.

The hosts wasted no time in making a fight of things thanks to the effort of Lynam with the new ball, with the seamer removing Dafydd Roberts (4), Michael Parton (1), Josh Duckworth (2), Murray Whitehead (9) and Pooler (0) from the top order on his way to exceptional figures of 5-23 from a 12-over spell.

He was aided at the other end by Moulson, who despatched Sion Hughes (38), Dafydd Hughes (0), captain Rhys Hilditch (0) and Williams (1) to end the day on 4-5, but an unbeaten knock of 12 from Duncan Roberts got the visitors over the line with one wicket and ten overs to spare.