Darlington and District Cricket League
A SENSATIONAL spell of bowling by Barningham’s Adam Bellwood saw him return the amazing figures of five wickets for just two runs in eight overs against Spennymoor.
His spell, which included six maidens, helped send the visitors packing for just 30 as Barningham raced to a ten wicket win.
Spennymoor were missing a number of players and could only muster ten, but Bellwood used the strong cross wind to perfect effect to bring the ball back in to the right handers and away from the lefties.
At the other end, Jake Black wheeled away to take the other three wickets for 25 runs.
Had Mel Groves, coming in at eight, not swung a six and four in the only double figure score for a Spenny batsman, the total could have been even more embarrassing.
The win keeps Barningham well clear in third place, while the teams occupying the two places above them also recorded straightforward victories.
With showers around, Raby Castle skipper Joe Dent declared with his side on 223-1 against East Cowton, despite the fact he was on 98 not out, while his brother Matt was unbeaten on 93.
However, the move paid off as Cowton were blasted out for just 47. Simon Lee picked up 4-17 and Joe Beadle 3-2.
Only Sam Green, with 25, put up any resistance for Cowton.
After the loss of two early wickets, Craig Edwards scored a magnificent unbeaten century to help Haughton to 195-9 against Middleton St George.
Danny McGuire and Mark Little then made short work of the MSG top order and despite Simon French’s 27, the visitors were sent back for 82.
At Brinkburn Road, it was a low scoring affair as West Park RA overcame Barton by four wickets.
The struggling visitors made only 78 as Gareth Percival took four wickets and James Branmley three.
Joe Clendening, Alex Percival and James Frankland each to two wickets for Barton as West Park took 30 overs to reach the target.
At Cliffe, a burst underground pipe flooded part of the ground and forced the abandonment of the game against Aldbrough St John, while the Richmond School pitch was unplayable and led to Richmondshire IV’s game against Nunthorpe falling foul of the weather.
In the B division, Cockerton’s outfield resembled a lake, so the fixture against Cliffe II was an early casualty.
Middleton-in-Teesdale’s outfield also felt the effects of constant downpours and was unfit for the game against Richmondshire V, and there was no play at Witton le Wear, who were due to entertain Haughton II.
In the C division, Lands received the 20 points after Middleton Tyas conceded the fixture.
There was play at Aldbrough St John, where the club's second team welcomed Cockerton II.
David Wilson made 42 as the hosts managed 112-8 in their 40 overs. Hrishkesh Bedekar was the pick of Cockerton's bowlers with 3-24.
In reply, veteran Steve Lethbridge rolled back the years to hit an unbeaten 53 as Cockerton cruised home by six wickets.
Eryholme recorded a six run win against East Cowton II.
Colin Harker top scored for Eryholme with 37 as the side made 120-5 in a shortened game of 36 overs-a-side.
East Cowton’s top order was quickly removed before Jack Bagley hit 44 to get his side within sight of the target.
However, a lower order collapse saw Eryholme run out winners as Harker followed up his runs with 4-10 in 6.3 overs.
In the Durham League, Evenwood game at Langley Park was called off.
Barnard Castle CC
AFTER the high excitement of their Kerridge Cup final win, Barney returned to Hartlepool on Saturday and came home with a less favourable outcome.
Gloomy skies replaced bright sunshine and defeat replaced victory.
In some ways, the result was characteristic of Barney’s season in the NYSD Premier Division.
They probably failed to score enough runs, albeit on an extremely challenging pitch.
In some ways, too, it was a justified result, decided as it was under the Duckworth Lewis method, being trialled by the league this season.
Barney won the reverse fixture at home in May, when they benefited from DL.
On this occasion, Barney were defending a total of 134 all out and Hartlepool were narrowly ahead of the required DL rate on 79-4 when rain forced the abandonment of their innings after 26.1 overs.
With rain always likely to intervene, Hartlepool had no hesitation in electing to bowl.
It meant that they could more easily control the chase in the event of an interruption.
Barney never truly settled. With yet another opening pair – James Alderson, one of the heroes of the 2018 league title win making a welcome return – they lost three wickets before the score reached 20.
Professional Hashan Dumindu, who played an instrumental part in the Kerridge win six days earlier, made his eighth single figure score of the season from 24 innings. Captain James Quinn and Finn Usher put on 30 for the for the sixth wicket and then Usher and Richard Watson 36 for the seventh.
But batting was never easy on a surface that offered movement to the seam bowlers.
For Barney to have a realistic hope of defending their total they needed to remove Hartlepool’s prolific professional, James Lowe, early. They did not.
Wickets fell regularly at the other end with all Barney’s bowlers, not least Usher and Watson, causing problems.
But Lowe engineered the innings impeccably and when the rain inevitably came Hartlepool had their noses in front and Barney stayed in fifth place.
Barney 134 all out (42.4 overs, J Quinn 36, F Usher 32, J Bousfield 14, R Watson 11, B Smith 6-43, D Mulholland 3-40); Hartlepool 79-4 (26.1 Overs, J Lowe 49no, R Watson 2-16).
Hartlepool won by six wickets under DL
Saltburn III v Barney III
BARNEY earned an improbable draw after torrential rain ended the match with Saltburn needing nine runs to win with six wickets in hand.
Andrew Gedye and Oscar Usher were the chief contributors to Barney’s total, the former giving the side a confident start and the latter ensuring the innings did not then entirely subside.
Saltburn’s second wicket pair put on 67 and although they lost another three wickets fairly quickly looked to be in sight of victory when the rain came.
Barney 101 all out (27 overs, O Usher 35no, A Gedye 31, M Smith 4-35, S Mead 3-9); Saltburn 93-4 (17.3 overs, J Peirson 50, D Blain 31no, S Mullery 2-14).
Match drawn
