Barnard castle CC
NYSD Premier Division
THE victory wasn’t to be for a hard-working Barney team at Vere Road on Saturday as dropped catches and a negative batting approach from league leaders Middlesbrough led to what felt like eight points dropped rather than 17 gained.
The visitors won the toss and chose to field on what was a perfect batting wicket.
After a shaky start, Samarth Seth and Karl Carver took Barney to 132-2 before Carver innocuously played on to his off stump for 38. Despite being dropped on 13, a regulation chance to mid-wicket, Seth went on to make 90 off 93 balls.
By the end, he looked back to his best form, targeting all parts of the ground. As usual it was an entertaining innings with six sixes and six fours. Richard Borrowdale then took over and on what increasingly looked like a batting paradise made a quickfire 77 in 63 balls, ultimately taking the game away from the visitors.
A brisk partnership of 42 from 34 balls with Rob Dixon helped take Barney to 280-7 off their 50 overs.
In reply, Middlesbrough made it abundantly clear from the first ten overs that they had no intention of trying to chase this down and would settle for draw points. The innings was led and anchored by the ever-dangerous James Lowe. His strike rate of 62 alone demonstrated that he wasn’t going to give his wicket up easily.
But he struggled to read Richard Watson’s spin and the pressure built as wickets gradually started to fall around him. He did give chances, on 59 to Borrowdale and on 62 to Seth but both unfortunately hit the deck. Lowe went on to make a crucial 95 before being bizarrely run out while just strolling out of his crease after the last ball of an over. Watson, realising that the ball was not dead, calmly threw the stumps down.
It gave Barney a slender final hope but ultimately it was in vain. The points were split and Barney, still in third, fell further behind Richmond who now sit 24 points clear with Middlesbrough in second.
Barney
F Usher, c Whittle, b Williams 20, J Quinn, c & b Williams 5, S Seth, lbw Lowe 90, K Carver, b Bell 38, R Borrowdale not out 77, J Bousfield, st Whittle 4, R West, c Williams, b Bell 11, R Dixon, b Lowe 24, R Watson not out 2, Extras 9, Total (50 overs) 280-7
Bowling; H Williams, 15-0-64-2, J Woods, 7-1-23-0, J Lowe, 15-1-70-3, N Bell, 9-0-68-2, M Bell, 3-0-44-0, M Maloy, 1-0-7-0.
Middlesbrough
J Lowe, run out (R Watson) 95, R Ditta run out (R Watson), M Maloy, c Merryweather, b Watson 21, J Gaudie, c Bousfield, b Karver 16, M Bell, lbw Usher 28, J Whittle, c Seth, b Usher 0, G Singh, c Merryweather, b Carver 2, A Ditta, lbw Watson 17, H Williams, not out 0, J Woods not out 0, Extras 11 Total (50 overs) 194-8
Bowling; J Bousfield, 9-2-29-0, R Dixon, 7-0-22-0, K Carver, 15-2-52-2, R West, 3-0-15-0, R Watson, 9-1-37-2, F Usher, 7-0-35-2
Kerridge Cup third round
SALTBURN-by-the Sea was the venue for Sunday’s cup clash. With the Hundred the only other cup they were still vying for, Barney were keen to make it past the hosts.
After being forced to field first they were happy to have Saltburn two down for 19, but with recently arrived overseas pro Vishant More at the crease Saltburn were always in the game. He was accompanied by Sam Parry who made a solid 52 off 65 balls, followed by Jason Erskine, 57 off 58, to get Saltburn to an intimidating total of 245-3 off their 40 overs.
More was the star of the show. He hit 105 off 95 balls, with eight fours and four sixes. He got after every bowler and took his side to a score they would have been very confident of defending.
When Finn Usher and James Quinn fell cheaply for Barney, confidence must have been knocked in the dugout. But led by yet another superb knock from Karl Carver, who made an unbeaten 91 from 76 balls, accompanied by the in-form Richard Borrowdale, 66 off 58 which included two enormous sixes, they closed in on the target.
At 72 for 3, with Samarth Seth out, it might have been fraught but the fourth wicket pair took control. Their partnership of 136 from 107 balls effectively secured Barney’s passage and a jaunty late contribution from Josh Bousfield ensured it.
Carver was outstanding, playing the ball around confidently, assessing the run chase perfectly and achieving a place in the semi-final with 2.5 overs to spare. They will play holders Hartlepool at home on July 17.
Saltburn 244 for 3 (40 overs, V More 105no, J Erskine 57no , S Parry 52, R Dixon 1-26, J Bousfield 1-35, K Carver 1-41); Barney 245-5 (37.1 overs, K Carver 91 not out, R Borrowdale 66, S Seth 31, J Bousfield 18, J Midgley 2-40, S Parry 2-40) Barney won by 5 wkts
NYSD Division 2
Middlesbrough II v
Barney II
Barney travelled to Middlesbrough full of confidence after last week's record run chase and arrived at Acklam Park optimistic of another victory. They decided to have a bat on what was clearly a good batting deck.
Ian Swinburn, not having been in the best of nick, had a jolly day out, clearly deciding this was a perfect opportunity to get back to his best. He did not disappoint, hitting 12 fours and nine sixes in 152 off 127 balls. Little respect was paid to any bowler on show with the ball travelling to all parts. Well known for his musical exploits, let’s hope “rockstar” can use this innings to kick on into the second half of the season.
Helped at the other end by recent signing Dan Lee, who notched 78 off 75 balls, Barney put on a mighty 325-7 off their 50 overs.
The home side put up a hearty effort and unlike the first team at Barney, the draw was never part of the plan. But ultimately Barney’s total was too daunting and Boro were all out for 175 in 41 overs.
The pick of the Barnard Castle bowlers was Peter Stanwix with three wickets for 28 and Dan Watson also taking three for 30. It has been an impressive comeback in the last two games. Still in tenth, one above the relegation places they have at least put some daylight between themselves and the bottom two.
Barnard Castle 325-7 (50 overs, I Swinburn 152, D Lee 78, J Khan 2-43, G Knaggs 2-43); Middlesbrough 175 all out (41 overs, R Rashid 45, G Knaggs 48, P Stanwix 3-28, D Watson 3-30)
Barney won by 150 runs
Darlington and District Cricket League
LEAGUE leaders Haughton came perilously close to losing their 100 per cent unbeaten record in a thrilling game at Eryholme.
Put into bat, the hosts, who are enjoying a good season, made a competitive 165-8, thanks to the efforts of the top order, most notable Simon Warne’s unbeaten 75 and Angus Potter’s 43.
In reply, Mark Little looked to be steering his side to victory but on 81 he was run out.
With Haughton old-boy Aman Ali picking up three wickets and Sam Potter chipping in with four, the visitors were indebted to their veteran all-rounder Dave Edwards hitting an unbeaten 20 coming in at number ten.
Elsewhere, Barningham scored a morale boosting ten wicket win against bottom club East Cowton, who were bowled out for just 87 with Joe Blackburn taking 4-22.
Ron Stanwix smashed an unbeaten 69 as Barningham took just ten overs to reach their target.
James Forster top scored with 52 in Raby Castle’s 186 against Cockerton for whom Josh Evans impressed with the ball, taking 4-31 from his ten overs.
Scores in the 40s from William Hopkins and Simon Broughton looked to have Cockerton on the way to a win, but in the end the side fell nine runs short with eight wickets down.
Half centuries from Sam Cull, Will Heathcote and Joe Knowles propelled Cliffe to 249-7 against Lands. Ryan Matthews took four wickets and Keiran Brown three as the bowlers toiled.
A top order collapse hindered Lands’ reply, however, a half century from Brown and useful contributions from Peter Brown and Jonathan Milroy helped the side finish on 199 all out.
These are worrying times for Aldbrough St John, traditionally one of the stronger sides in the league.
The second team has been struggling for numbers this season, but on Saturday both first and second teams conceded their fixtures.
In the B division, Fynn Lumley’s unbeaten 73 helped visitors Barton to 191 at Middleton-in-Teesdale.
Middleton could have faced a much larger target but for some good bowling which saw the last six Barton wickets fall for just 41 runs.
Buoyed by their success in the B division cup, Middleton had few troubles chasing down the runs required in just 31 overs.
Anth Coatsworth maintained his rich vein of form, hitting 89, while there were an incredible 58 extras, which included 38 wides.
Other B division results
Haughton II 182-5, Richmondshire V 183-5; Witton le Wear 128, Middleton Tyas 132-0; Catterick Village 170, Oxbridge 174-8.
In the C division, Northallerton III’s 167-7 proved too many for Etherley, who were bowled out for 141, while King James could only reply with 160 after Cockerton II had posted 244-6.
Middleton-St-George II romped home by six wickets after Barton II were restricted to 151-7.
Durham and North East Cricket League Division 2
Evenwood CC... 122
Tudhoe.............. 125-5
WEST Indian Joshua James, who was Evenwood's professional last season, came back to haunt his old side in this encounter.
James’ 51 off 43 balls helped Tudhoe recover from the early loss of wickets and take the points after Evenwood’s batsmen endured an afternoon to forget.
Put into bat, once a promising partnership between opening Luke Bannister (26) and pro Sawan Kankanange (25), wickets tumbled in the face of good bowling from James Curry (4-19) and Stephen Brown (3-37).
In reply, early wickets for Thomas Teesdale and Kankanange gave Evenwood a glimmer of hope before James took charge of affairs and helped steer Tudhoe to victory with almost 20 overs to spare. Evenwood remain second in division 2, but are just a handful of points ahead of Boldon CA and Tudhoe and can ill afford any more slip-ups.
