MOCHDRE’s exceptional North Wales Cricket League Premier Division season continued with a four-wicket triumph at Pontblyddyn.

The newly promoted side remain well in the championship picture heading into the closing stages of the campaign, with Matty Humphreys’ men now 11 points behind pacesetting Bangor and boasting the same number of points as defending champions Menai Bridge.

They will look to close the gap at the summit this Saturday when they host Brymbo, who have struggled to reach the heights of last season and sit just four points above the drop zone.

The visitors produced another impressive display in the field to restrict their opponents to 123 all out from 38 overs, with Humphreys, Gareth Davies and Stewart Williams all claiming two wickets apiece to aid their side’s cause.

Home skipper Ben Mason was crucially run out by Kyle Brown on 38 when threatening to make a big score, but only Mike Todt (18), Tom Dawson (19) and George Forgrave (19) making it in double-figures thereafter on a difficult afternoon in the middle.

The away side’s run chase began moderately with Williams and Finaly Jones making 18 and 16 respectively, but there was no such luck for Alex Davies after he was caught off a James Hughes delivery for a four-ball duck.

Hughes also managed to dispose of French for one during a fine spell of bowling that ended with figures of 3-43, and Mark Neath also got in on the act with the quick-fire scalps of Humphreys and Gareth Davies for 29 and 10.

That was as good as it got for the struggling hosts, with Sam Davies smashing an unbeaten 30 from just 33 deliveries to ensure the championship contenders got over the line with nine overs in hand.