Darlington and District Cricket League
COMPREHENSIVE wins for second placed Barningham and Raby Castle, just nine points back in third, nicely set up this Saturday’s meeting of the two sides.
Barningham achieved their sixth win of the campaign with a six wicket success at Aldbrough St John.
On a damp wicket, the home skipper somewhat surprisingly chose to bat in conditions which favoured the bowlers.
Barningham duly cashed in with three early wickets before David Mathias and Michael Ingram steadied the Aldbrough ship.
However, when Ingram was removed for 23 and Mathias for 30, the hosts subsided to 121.
Paul Kearton was the pick of the Barningham bowlers with 5-30. He received good support from Mark Thompson, whose remodelled action has brought greater accuracy, Rob Stanwix and Joe Blackburn.
With the wicket drying out, batting second was a little easier, although the slow surface meant care was still required.
Barningham overcame the early loss of Colin Blackburn as Stuart Laundy and Scott Walker added 48.
Laundy played on for 32 and Stanwix was caught for five, but there was no loss of momentum as the in-form Gary Walker plundered 37 to take his side to the bink of victory before he was run out.
Scott Walker remained unbeaten on 42 as Barningham won with plenty of overs to spare.
After Thursday’s disappointment in the A Division Cup final (see page 39), Raby were quick to atone at home to West Park RA.
Put in to bat, Raby opener Matt Dent led the way with 76. Simon Lee added 33 and Andrew West 28 as Raby closed on 200-7.
James Forster and Joe Beadle then provoked an amazing collapse which saw West Park bowled out for just 27 on perhaps the best surface for batting in the league.
Forster picked up 4-12 and Beadle 3-8. The only double figure score for West Park was the ten extras.
Amazingly, West Park’s was not the lowest total of the afternoon.
That “honour” belonged to Spennymoor, who could muster just 20 against leaders Haughton.
Craig Edwards took 3-3 and Jack Riley 3-7 in the rout, which saw Haughton reach the target in 2.2 overs.
Cliffe moved up to fourth with their third league win of the year, a good run chase at East Cowton.
Electing to field, Sam Clark was the star with the ball, taking 6-29 from seven overs for Cliffe as the hosts were restricted to 128.
Arran Allinson was left high and dry on 38 as the last four Cowton batsmen were dismissed for ducks.
Chris Easby and Will Heathcote put on 48 for Cliffe’s first wicket and after Easby was out for 44, Richard Mallender steered the side home by five wickets with an unbeaten 31.
Chris Peacock’s 53 was one of to half centuries for Middleton St George, who made a healthy looking 183-7.
However, several good contributions meant opponents Richmondshire IV got home with two wickets to spare.
In the B Division, an unbeaten 53 from Adam Mullery and 49 from Kamron Ibberson helped Middleton-in-Teesdale to 181-5 from their 40 overs against Barton II.
Dave Watson produced a spell of 3-15 from his ten overs before Ibberson nipped in with three quick wickets later on to help Middleton to a 24-run win.
Scott Hedley took 6-60 as Raby Castle II bowled out Catterick Village for 194, but the target proved too difficult as Lewis Metcalfe hit back with 7-26.
Some 31 extras helped to boost the Raby reply to a meagre 71.
Elsewhere, Cliffe II defeated Oxbridge by 21 runs in a low scoring game; Cockerton knocked off Haughton II’s 162-9 to win by six wickets and Richmondshire V won by six wickets after bowling out Witton le Wear for 80.
Of the games in the C division, Martin Hall took 3-32 as Etherley were bowled out for 90, but this proved more than enough. Brandon Aspel picked up 5-12 and Chris Bennett 4-16 as Middleton were sent back for just 37.
