Suminda Lakshan’s starring role

NYSD Premier Division Barnard Castle v Marton

Suminda Lakshan played a starring role in Barnard Castle’s impressive win over Marton at Vere Road.

The Sri Lankan all-rounder scored an unbeaten half-century and took five wickets as the hosts won by 106 runs.

The victory maintains Barney’s position at the top of the Premier Division, 21 points ahead of rivals Richmondshire, who showed their class with a 92-run win over third-placed Darlington RA.

With Barney and Richmond winning and RA, who had been in good form, losing heavily, a significant gap has opened up between the top two and the chasing pack.

Darlington RA are now 31 points behind Richmond and 51 adrift of Barney, who lost the toss against Marton on Saturday and were asked to bat.

After losing both openers cheaply, Barney’s middle order steadied the ship before kicking-on with James Quinn (52) scoring a half century, Karl Carver chipping in with 29, Lakshan hitting 63 off 64 balls and Richard Borrowdale smashing 38 off 39 balls in a knock that included five fours and two sixes.

Barney eventually reached 217-7 off their 50 overs and then bowled with skill and discipline to frustrate Marton.

In addition to Lakshan’s 5-29 off nine overs, Carver took a hugely impressive 3-10 in 11 overs and Tom Merryweather 2-22 as Marton were bowled out for 111 in 38 overs.

Barney face two games this weekend. They travel to Marske tomorrow (Saturday, 1pm) for a Premier Division fixture then play Saltburn at Vere Road in a Kerridge Cup semi-final on Sunday (1.30pm).

Barney 217-7 (50 overs) bt Marton 111 (38 overs) by 106 runs.

Premier Hundred Darlington RA v Barnard Castle

Barnard Castle took three points after Darlington RA conceded the match.

Division One Rockliffe Park v Barnard Castle II

Archer Byrne performed well with bat and ball in a losing cause for Barney Seconds.

The Aussie all-rounder scored 87 runs off 89 balls as the visitors were bowled out for 169.

Unfortunately, his team-mates struggled to hang around with only Will Poole (29) achieving double figures on a day when three Barney players were run out.

In reply, Rockliffe knocked off the winning target inside 35 overs with skipper Tom Ward scoring an unbeaten 74 and Byrne finishing with figures of 3-59.

Barney Seconds 169 all out (49.2 overs) lost to Rockliffe 173-5 (34.4 overs) by 5 wickets

Division One Hundred Barnard Castle II v Bedale

A half century from Chris Dodson (77 off 32 balls) and 42 off 22 balls from Archer Byrne were the headline knocks from Barney Seconds’ impressive innings of 175-6.

Tight Barney bowling in the early overs of Bedale’s reply meant that by the time the visitors hit their stride they didn’t have enough balls left to reach their target, despite half centuries from Jack Heads (52 off 22 balls) and George Spink (55 off 30). Will Poole took 2-29.

Barney Seconds 175-6 (100 balls) bt Bedale 158-4 (100 balls) by 17 runs

Sunday Conference North Rockliffe Park III v Barnard Castle III

A half century from Jack Bailey (59) and an unbeaten 41 off 32 balls from keeper-batsman John Lucas helped Barney Thirds chase down a target of 179 to win by five wickets at Rockliffe Park Thirds.

Earlier Finlay Kirkup (2-24) and Will Poole (1-31) took care of the Rockliffe openers as the home side slipped to 30-2, while Archer Byrne finished with 3-26 including the wicket of dangerman George Olney, who was trapped LBW on 50.

Rockliffe Thirds 178-8 (40 overs) lost to Barney Thirds 182-5 (35.5 overs) by 5 wickets

Junior Hundred, first round Barnard Castle U17 v Darlington U17

Barney U17s recorded an exciting win over Darlington in the Junior Hundred on a balmy evening at Vere Road, writes Ian Rutherford.

The Hundred is a game that favours the batters and with 20 runs coming from the first 10 balls of the visitors’ innings that view was amply demonstrated.

However, Joe Rutherford’s first delivery was caught at mid-on by Jake Goodhart to remove Louie Heslop and his fourth delivery to the dangerous Sayed Haque was safely pouched by Jack Bailey and Darlington were suddenly 20-2.

Then Beth Poole took a fine catch on the boundary off the bowling of Bailey to remove opposing captain and opener Harry Glenton (29).

At the other end Luke Frankland had reached 75 from only 40 balls when Joe Rutherford returned to the attack and with his second ball found the edge of Frankland’s bat and brother Toby Rutherford dived to his left and made a spectacular grab.

The wicket slowed the scoring rate down considerably and the Darlington innings closed on 149-7.

Barney set about chasing down the target with skipper Jack Dalton’s right-handed power proving an excellent foil to opening partner William Poole left-handed elegance.

At drinks with 50 balls gone, the pair were 80 without loss. It took a classy caught and bowled from Joey Hayman to dismiss Dalton at the end of the 13th over for 40 with the score on 109.

In came Oli Greves at three and he nonchalantly clipped his fourth ball for six – Barney were cruising.

Then Darlington started bowling straight on a good length and the runs dried up.

The atmosphere was tense but with three needed from two balls, Poole flicked the penultimate delivery off his legs for a six and Barney were through to the next round.

Poole’s match-winning 68 had come off 50 balls while Greves finished on 17 not out.

Darlington 149-7 (100 balls) lost to Barney 153-1 (99 balls) by 9 wickets