TOP KNOCK: Cliffe’s Andrew Glover hit 109 and shared a stand of 179 with Richard Mallender as Cliffe defeated Spennymoor
TOP KNOCK: Cliffe’s Andrew Glover hit 109 and shared a stand of 179 with Richard Mallender as Cliffe defeated Spennymoor

Darlington and district cricket league

BARNINGHAM bounced back from their poor showing against Haughton the previous week with a comprehensive win at home to a Barton side shorn of a number of regulars.

Much of the Barton innings was played in continual drizzle and the turning point in the game came when the players came off for an early tea as the rain became heavier.

At that point, Barton still had ten overs to bat, wickets in hand and skipper James Borthwick going well.

However, Jake Black’s devastating second spell, which included three wickets in an over, changed the game as Barton were bowled out for 155, Borthwick stranded on 67 having carried his bat.

Openers Scott Walker and Stuart Laundy then set about the Barton bowling, which lacked penetration.

They had both passed 50 and taking their partnership to 139 before Laundy was bowled for 60, playing back to one that kept a bit low.

There were no further alarms as Walker finished unbeaten on 66 and the target was reached inside 20 overs.

The game of the day should have been Raby Castle’s tussle with Nunthorpe, however, it was the only match of the afternoon which was lost to the weather.

Just ten overs were possible, during which time, Nunthorpe had reached 64-2 before play was suspended for the day.

At Richmond School, play was reduced to 35-overs a side, and Clive Layfield’s unbeaten 75 helped the hosts to 162-3.

He shared a big opening stand with Andy Dade who made 54 before being bowled by Danny McGuire.

Haughton’s successful run chase was built around skipper Sam Bainbridge’s 59 and despite Gareth Wood’s 5-40 for Richmondshire, Matthew Brown’s 24 not out saw Haughton over the line.

Batting performance of the day came from Cliffe CC’s veterans Andrew Glover and Richard Mallender against Spennymoor.

Glover hit 109, an innings which included 13 boundaries and three sixes, and Mallender 91 in a third wicket stand of 179 out of a final total of 242-4.

This knocked the stuffing out of Spennymoor, who could only manage 127 in reply.

Ben Howe was the pick of Cliffe’s bowlers with 3-25 in seven overs. Jack Atkinson, Richard Jameson and James Bendle chipped in with two apiece.

Aldbrough St John picked up their second win after East Cowton failed to capitalise on a good start.

Will Raw made 45 and there were 20s from fellow opener John Clark and Brian Tucker, coming in at three, but the wheels then came off in spectacular style.

The main destroyer was Dave Mathias, whose off-sping earned him 4-18 in ten overs. Tom Pickering, Chris Braithwaite and Jason Williams each took two wickets.

Bob Allen then took four wickets for Cowton to cause a slight wobble in Aldbrough’s chase, but the hosts got home with five wickets in hand.

West Park RA opener Simon Warne batted through for an unbeaten 67 out of 138-8 in a game against Middleton St George reduced to 36 overs a side.

After Joshua Evans had removed two of the top three Middleton batsmen, Adam I'Anson came on to clear up the tail with 4-17 as MSG were bowled out for 104.

In the B division, Middleton-in-Teesdale are off and running after a nine-wicket win against Raby Castle II.

There were three wickets apiece for Graham Hutchinson, Sam Bell and John Lucas as Raby Castle II were bowled out for 93.

Steve Addison then blasted an unbeaten 67 as Middleton reached the target in just ten overs.

Cliffe II completed an excellent weekend for the club with a 47-run win against Witton-le-Wear.

Batting first Cliffe made 137-6 and then sent their hosts back for just 86.

Aidan Reid’s 67 and 70 from Chris Stoddart laid the foundation for Haughton IIs’ 293-8 against Richmondshire V.

Mark Rile took 3-31 as ten-man Richmondshire were bowled out for 127.

In the division's other game, Dave Black made 136 not out as Cockerton piled on 271-5 before bowling Catterick out for 74.

In the C division, table-topping Lands had Jonathan Milroy’s 77 to thanks for the win against Cockerton II.

Three wickets had fallen cheaply before Milroy’s boundary laden innings which helped his side to 141-9.

Daniel Wallace and Robert Little each took three wickets as Cockerton were sent back for 80.

In the other games, Etherley conceded to King James, who stay second in the division with three wins from three, while East Cowton II won after bowling out eight-man Aldbrough II for 41.

Middleton Tyas knocked off Middleton St George IIs’ 85 all out for the loss of just two wickets.