MOCHDRE suffered their first defeat since returning to the North Wales Cricket League Premier Division with a narrow three-wicket loss at Pwllheli.

The newly promoted side were left counting the cost of a middle order collapse that led to their eventual demise, and they will be hoping for better fortune this Saturday during their trip to early season table-toppers Denbigh.

Russ Boswell got the away side off to a flyer in the field with the wicket of Lawrence Barraclough (14), but a strong partnership from Iain Metcalfe (48) and skipper Morgan Murray-Williams (53) gave them a mountain to climb before they were eventually removed by Kyle Brown and Stewart Williams.

The talented Williams also took the scalps of Tristan Coetzee (14) and Craig Edwards (2) on his way to figures of 3-44, with Brown taking his tally to 2-42 as the home side finished on 187-7 from their allotted 50 overs.

Despite losing Gareth Goodson (11) and captain Matty Humphreys (13) during the opening exchanges, a fine half century from Alex Davies gave them plenty of cause for encouragement before he was caught off a Chris Moore delivery on 57 during a critical stage of the innings.

Williams aided his side’s cause with 15, but the rest of the batting order suffered significant struggles as the away side mustered 146 all out in reply.

This was down in no small part to the bowling performance of Syed Kaleem Aslam, who ended a spellbinding seven over spell with four wickets for the loss of just six runs.