STRUGGLING Prestatyn remain just outside the Liverpool and District Competition First Division relegation places after a 90-run loss at Birkenhead Park.

It has been a difficult start to the campaign for the Beach Close side, and they were undone on their travels by a superb unbeaten century from Khalid Wahbi in their latest reverse.

They are now just five points ahead of second-from-bottom Fleetwood, and they will look to pick up a moral boosting victory next Saturday during their trip to Old Xaverians.

The away side got off to a flyer when Danny Pryde and Sheil Sethi ousted the opening pair of Wyll Stanway (2) and Charlie Jones (0), with the latter also claiming the scalps of Daniel Adkins (27) and Ahmad Abdullah (8) to further enhance his influence on proceedings.

Wahbi then entered the fray and demonstrated his class from the outset, smashing no fewer than 14 boundaries to finish the innings unbeaten on 100.

He was aided at the other end by skipper Jonathan Crofton, who contributed 50 before he was eventually removed by Sethi, who ended his 14-over spell with figures of 4-43.

Other double-figure scores came from David Nevin (11) and Chris Foran (20*) as the hosts declared on 227-6 from their 47 overs at the crease.

Things did not begin well for the visitors in the middle, who lost Kieron Tidswell (7), Sethi (15) and Waqar Khan (0) during the opening exchanges, but a strong partnership from captain David Harris and Gareth Leonard kept them in the contest before both were ousted by Wahbi on 50 and 38 respectively.

Wahbi also claimed the wickets of Robbie Rimmington (2), Jason Edwards (1) and Isaac Sheridan to end the day on 5-44, with Abdullah claiming wo notable scalps in the form of Rhys Jones (9) and Ashley Jones as Prestatyn’s run chase ended on 137 all out.