Three-times holders Brymbo won’t be bringing home the trophy this year after going down to a seven wicket defeat in their high-scoring third round thriller against Connah’s Quay at Tan-y-Fron.

Put in after losing the toss, Brymbo started strongly only for heavy rain to drive the teams back to the pavilion for what was an hour-long wait to resume.

After taking an early tea, the umpires deducted 10 overs off either innings, making it a 35 over contest.

Brymbo, having lost their momentum, still hammered 170 off 21 overs thanks to Joss Roberts 75, Dave Broderick 43 and Elliott Hughes 41 not out. Rob Bennett picking up 2-40 to post 216 for four – fewer than they might have expected had the rain not intervened.

Connah’s Quay gave chase, reaching 93 for three off 22 overs but a storming partnership between Darren Jones 54 not out and Dave Fox 48 not out carried them to a winning 219 for three in the 33rd over.

Powerhouse Jones smashed consecutive sixes late on after new signing Mitch Van Wyk had blasted 48 to help earn Quay a fourth round trip to Pontblyddyn or Alberbury on July 4.

Meanwhile, Hawarden Park’s big-hitters Tom Ducker and James Hurlin helped their team to an eight wicket win over visitors Llay to keep their cup hopes alive.

Three breaks for rain meant the match was reduced to 32 overs per innings and Llay elected to bat on winning the toss, reaching 132 for nine when their overs expired.

Opener Jamie Beale 37 and number nine John Lloyd, 26 not out, were the main contributors as skipper Jamie Ducker bagged 5-14 and all-rounder Hurlin 3-28.

Hawarden made light of the challenge and stormed to 133 for 2 in just 20.4 overs, brother Tom smashing six sixes and eight fours in his 83, Hurlin adding 31 as this prolific opening partnership put on 115 to virtually seal the verdict.

Hawarden take on Llandudno in the next round on July 4.