A STRONG batting performance was the catalyst behind Colwyn Bay’s 46-run home victory over Northop Hall.

The Liverpool and District Competition side got their first win of a disrupted summer thanks in no small part to a polished performance in the middle, and they followed this up by coming up with the goods in the field to secure success.

Things did not begin well for the hosts despite their eventual triumph, with opener Adam Campion clean bowled by Darren Leach for a golden duck.

Skipper George Johansen and Ryan Westwell proved a far sterner presence to remove from the crease, putting on 106 for the second wicket before the latter was removed by Matthew Hodgson on 46.

Johansen was at his brilliant best throughout the innings, hitting 11 boundaries before he was caught off a Joshua Andrady delivery on 79 from 91 deliveries.

Another standout contribution came from former Northop Hall player Will Higginson, who looked eager to make his mark against his old club on his way to 59 from 63 balls, and Darren Moore’s unbeaten 22 late on enabled the Bay to set an imposing target of 258 all out from 42 overs.

Leach was the pick of the visiting bowling attack on his way to figures of 3-43, with Andrady and Hodgson finishing with two scalps apiece.

Kieron New got the hosts off to a flyer with the prized wicket of Jac Kennedy for four, and Campion ousted dangerous opener Michael Barnes for 22 after threatening a big score.

Campion was solid with the ball throughout, adding Andrady (18), David Hodgson (10) and wicketkeeper Matthew Dunning to his list of victims to finish the day on 4-27.

Veteran spinner Paul Jenkins also got in on the act with the wickets of top-scorer Alex Smith (32) and Carwyn Johnson (2), leaving the away side on 212-9 from 45 overs in reply.