Evenwood CC
A STRONG batting effort saw Evenwood CC open their league account with a victory.
Owen Peddelty made Peterlee pay for dropping him early on as he went on to make a belligerent 73 out of an above par 172 for 9.
Shaz Mahmood did the rest taking 5-31 with some probing seam bowling.
With an outfield still suffering from hoof prints, Evenwood’s ground staff worked hard to get the game on before their openers faced a tough spell.
Young Thomas Teesdale was bowled early on for a duck before Mahmood (23) and Peddelty got into their stride.
The opener survived a chance in the 20s when his edge was found – but the chance eluded Peterlee’s keeper and Peddelty made the most of his second life.
He struck 11 fours on the way to his 109-ball 73 – defying the slow outfield.
He was well supported by Andrew Rowell (12) and Mohammed Shoaib (21) lower down the order as the total swelled beyond 150.
Facing an uphill struggle, Peterlee never really threatened in their chase.
Mahmood and Shoaib combined to squeeze the visitors as wickets fell regularly.
Joseph Spalding (16) and Andrew Laidler (15) combined to offer a manful rearguard but the inevitable loomed.
Mahmood hit the seam regularly on the way to an impressive five wicket haul before Billy Teesdale helped sweep up proceedings.
Evenwood overcame their visitors by 100 runs and picked up 23 points in the process.
John Maughan’s fighting 46 wasn’t enough for Evenwood’s depleted second string.
There were plenty of bright spots though – opener Rhys Peairs looked good for his 25 and young Regan Maughan looked dangerous in his seven over spell of 2-11.
Ten-man Evenwood fell away in the first innings for 95 but there was a glimmer of hope when both Maughans combined to get Peterlee five down.
However, the hosts recovered to overhaul the total with four wickets remaining.
The second team will face Silksworth this Saturday at the Randolph Welfare Ground while the first XI travel away in the reverse fixture.
