Carver stars as Barnard Castle seal impressive win

NYSD Premier Division Barnard Castle v Richmondshire

Barnard Castle extended their lead at the top of the Premier Division to 22 points following a crucial victory over their main rivals Richmondshire.

However, captain Karl Carver isn’t getting carried away, warning: “There’s a lot of cricket still left to go.”

The two early top flight pacesetters clashed at Vere Road under ominous, grey clouds, with the Sam Alexander Cup up for grabs.

Pre-match rain meant the fixture was reduced to 38 overs per side and it was the home side that won an important toss.

Carver asked the visitors to bat in the damp, gloomy conditions and the decision looked to have paid instant dividends when Richmond were reduced to 3-2.

Tom Hodgson claimed both wickets with the fourth and sixth balls of the first over.

Opener Raam Raj (2) was first to go when he was caught by Finn Usher and next man in Max Percival was caught by James Clarkson for a duck.

Keeper-batsman Michael Layfield (36) and Yorkshire youngster Joe White staged a recovery, putting on 80 for the third wicket before the former was bowled by Rob West.

Captain and former Durham and Barney batsman Gary Pratt (8) was the first of three players to be caught and bowled by Carver and that scalp was the first of seven wickets to fall for the loss of just 25 runs as Richmond slipped from 113-3 to 138 all out in just 48 balls.

Carver, who’s enjoying an outstanding season with bat and ball, finished with 4-10 off 5.4 overs while Hodgson (2-15) and Suminda Lakshan (2-54) made important contributions.

Barney made the worst possible start to their reply, losing James Clarkson to a golden duck when the opener was trapped leg before wicket off Harvey Websdale’s first delivery.

In the following over, James Quinn also fell for a duck when he was caught by Pratt off Josh Dowson and the hosts found themselves 1-2. However, the skipper walked out and made a big statement of intent by smashing Dowson’s next ball for six!

Carver (36) and Finn Usher put on 58 for the third wicket before the skipper was lbw to Dowson. Lakshan didn’t hang around for long before he was caught by Joe White off Websdale for one but Usher (50 not out) and Ed Barnes (45 off 44 balls) saw Barney home with an unbeaten 78-run partnership.

A delighted Carver said: “It was a very good win for us, I was really impressed with how we performed on the day.”

On his three caught and bowled wickets, he added: “It’s been a while since I had one and ended up with three. Like the other week, it had been a while since I caught one at slip and then I got three!”

Barney are in Premier Division action at Stokesley tomorrow (Saturday, 1pm) while the seconds host Sedgefield in a Division One fixture (1pm).

Richmond 138 all out (32.4 overs) lost to Barney 142-4 (29.1 overs) by 6 wickets

Macmillan Cup, quarter-final Middlesbrough v Barnard Castle

Barney relinquished their hold on the Macmillan Cup following a surprise defeat to Middlesbrough in a low-scoring last-eight tie.

Inserted by Boro, the visitors struggled with the bat, posting just 90 in their allotted 20 overs.

Faizan Hussain (3-8), Ahsan Shrindal (2-9) and James Lowe (2-8) did most of the damage with the ball.

Barney’s bowlers did their best to keep their side in the competition but Boro reached their target in the 18th over.

Barney 90-9 (20 overs) lost to Middlesbrough 91-6 (17.5 overs) by 4 wickets

Division One Richmondshire v Barnard Castle – match abandoned

Women’s Hardball 100 Marton v Barnard Castle – Monday night

Neve Crisp smashed 45 off 25 balls and Annabelle Tiplady scored an unbeaten 46 off 45 balls as Barney hammered Marton in the Hardball 100.

Georgie Robson took 3-15 and Annabel Jackson 2-9 as Marton were bowled out for just 45 with 26 balls to spare.

Barney 155-3 (100 balls) bt Marton 45 all out (74 balls) by 110 runs

Women’s Club Plate T20, Group 1, round 2 Barnard Castle v Sheffield Collegiate

Barney were beaten by a strong Sheffield Collegiate side in the Women’s Plate T20.

The home side won the toss and asked the team from Yorkshire to bat. Opener Matilda White (51) scored a half-century and Lexi Hill added 24 while Neve Crisp (2-16) and Beth Poole (1-18) were Barney’s wicket takers.

Barnard Castle never looked like chasing down their target and Sheffield progressed to the next round.

Sheffield 131-4 (20 overs) bt Barnard Castle 77-8 (20 overs) by 54 runs

Women’s T20 South Pool Bishop Auckland v Barnard Castle

Barney won the toss and asked Bishops to bat.

Disciplined bowling meant the home side could only manage 53-5 off their 20 overs with Harriet Robson (1-3), Clara Tudor (1-4), Georgie Robson (1-5), Annabel Jackson (1-5) and Robyn Womack (1-3) taking the wickets.

Barney knocked off the runs inside 11 overs for the loss of three wickets with Dani Howson top scoring with 13 not out.

The win leaves Barnard Castle top of the South Pool table six points clear of Willington, who have a game hand.

Bishops 53-5 (20 overs) lost to Barney 54-3 (10.3 overs) by 7 wickets

Greaves Cup, U15 round one Barnard Castle U15 v Darlington RA U15

Unebeaten half centuries from Jack Bailey and Freddie Winter plus a scintillating 36 off 13 balls from Oscar Dickson ensured a comfortable passage through to the second round of the Greaves Cup for Barney U15s.

Barney batted first and scored 163-1 off 20 overs. Darlington RA never looked like chasing down that total and were skittled for 75 with Charlie Beadle (2-5), Ian Turnbull (1-5), Archie Ripley (1-9), Leo Rokk (1-5), Tony Rutherford (1-12), Rory Metcalf (1-9), Jack Bailey (2-3) and Freddie Winter (0-1) claimed the wickets.

Barney U15 163-1 (20 overs) by Darlington RA U15 75 all out (17.1 overs) by 88 runs