Durham and North East Cricket League
EVENWOOD enjoyed an afternoon of few alarms, recording a comfortable win against relegation-threatened Horden.
The lowly opponents batted first and made a respectable 187-7.
Rhys Peairs and Morgan Teesdale chipped in with two wickets each.
In reply, Luke Bannister and Thomas Teesdale put on 92 for the first wicket before Bannister chopped on for 43.
West Indian pro Joshua James came in and smashed a quick-fire 39 before he too was bowled, while Teesdale remained unbeaten on 68 as Evenwood eased home by eight wickets with overs to spare.
The win keeps Evenwood fifth in division two, just three points off third place, but with work to do to make up ground on the top two Seaham Harbour and Ryhope.
This Saturday, Evenwood host Boldon CA at the Randolph Social Welfare ground.
Darlington and District Cricket League
RABY Castle’s title ambitions took a hit with defeat at Aldbrough St John and despite the best efforts of all-rounder Ben Goodfellow with bat and ball.
Goodfellow removed five of the top six ASJ batsmen, reducing the hosts to 55-5 in the process.
However, the lower middle order staged a recovery, with Tom Pickering hitting 34 before an unbeaten 59-run stand between Michael Priestley and Jason Williams led Aldbrough to 172-7 from their 40 overs.
Raby’s reply mirrored Aldbrough’s innings – with Matthew Brown taking four wickets to reduce castle to 52-5.
Despite Goodfellow’s 34, there was to be no late order rally and Raby were dismissed for 122.
Haughton remain in charge thanks to a comfortable win at home to Barningham.
Haughton posted 214-4 after being put in and the visitors could only reply with 120.
At Cockerton, Cliffe’s opening batsman Tom Barwick hit 88 to help his side to 210-9.
Tight opening spells from Ben Howe (2-18 from his ten overs) and Richard Jameson (1-16 from eight overs) put Cockerton behind the clock.
William Hopkins fought back with 41 from 39 balls, but it was too little too late and Cockerton closed on 147-7.
East Cowton suffered few alarms knocking off the 194 posted by Catterick Village and went on to win by nine wickets.
The match between Witton-le-Wear and Middleton St George was called off due to an unfit pitch at Witton.
In the B division, Raby Castle II opener Rob Hayward batted through for 64 not out as his side posted 149-8 against Spennymoor.
Raby looked to be on course as Gareth Walton and Alex Lamb each picked up four wickets to reduce Spennymoor to 52-8.
The visitors lost their ninth wicket on 81, but an unbeaten 35 from Chris Hardwick and Allan Jones’s 19 not out saw their side to a thrilling win.
Eryholme’s veteran opening bowler Ian Hunter enjoyed his afternoon at Middleton-in-Teesdale, picking up 4-28 in his ten overs as the hosts were pegged back to 139.
James Wood made 45 and skipper John Fletcher was unbeaten on 28 off 15 balls as the final wicket fell.
Oliver Welsby took two early wickets to put Middleton in with a shout, but 61 from Simon Warne led Eryholme to the win.
At Cliffe, none of the batsmen could get going as King James’ Ryan Mensforth bagged 5-15 in nine overs.
The 140 posted was well below par, and King James suffered few difficulties in chasing down the total thanks to Tom Whittaker’s 76.
Barton opener Mark McAdam hit 117 as his side posted 199-2 which was too many for Oxbridge, who were bowled out for 104.
Dan Howell and Kian Charlton were the pick of the Barton bowlers, each picking up three wickets.
In the division’s other game, Richmondshire V bowled out Haughton II for 65 having earlier scored 141-7.
In the C division, sadly Etherley were forced to concede their fixture against Barton II due to Covid-19 issues.
The match between Middleton Tyas and Cockerton was abandoned due to a wet ground.
The only game to go ahead saw Middleton St George II bowled out for 110 chasing the 167-6 posted by Aldbrough St John II.
