Barnard Castle CC
AFTER turning 48 on Friday, Ian Swinburn made light of the years and led Barney to a vital 25 point victory on Saturday. His innings of 84 gave them a flying start, which turned out to be a crucial in a thrilling, rain-affected match.
Swinburn’s first wicket partnership of 93 with Finn Usher, after Barney were put in, put them in charge of the game against Thornaby.
When Usher had his off stump removed by another veteran, the evergreen spinner Mohammad Zahid, Samarth Seth came in and announced his intentions by hitting Zahid over his head for six first ball. Seth continued with this free-spirited mindset, his 79 coming from just 47 balls. He may be heading back to India in a couple of weeks, departing the English season early to try to cement a place in the Delhi first-class side, but he was determined to leave his mark.
Swinburn, in only his third first XI appearance of the season, was the star of this show. He batted in his usual attacking style throughout. With 12 fours and four sixes, he dealt mainly in boundaries. He eventually top edged one off Husnain Bukhari’s bowling, and despite not reaching three figures he should be delighted with his contribution.
James Quinn clearly came to bat with the intention of hitting his way into form. Two sixes went over the rope but he could only add 18.
The rain then came and an hour-and-a-half break meant we now had a shortened game. Barney would have to finish their innings and then Thornaby would have an adjusted target, assessed with the Duckworth Lewis regulations. The two Robs, Dixon and West enjoyed a late flurry; both have been extremely reliable with the bat this year. The home side eventually finished on a huge 337-7.
Thornaby had 27 overs to chase the adjusted target of 241. Bukhari started strongly with 14 coming off the first over. But the bowler, Josh Bousfield, prevailed when a spectacular catch from Quinn, running backwards from mid-off, ended his innings for 27 off just 11.
The visitors then made a real go of it, Lewis Harper with 47 off 33, Spaxman, 35 off 25 and Imran Qureshi, 35 off 16. With six overs to go only nine an over, the rate at the start of the innings, was required. Bousfield stepped up when he was needed, removing both Spaxman and Qureshi at vital times. Thornaby fell 23 runs short but it was a fantastic game of cricket.
This win keeps Barnard Castle’s title hopes alive. But with Richmond and Middlesbrough also both winning, they can only win their own games and hope for a bit of help from elsewhere.
Next up is Great Ayton away on Saturday.
Barnard Castle: F Usher, b Zahid 29, I Swinburn, c Watson b Bukhari 84, S Seth, c Crosland b Bukhari 79. K Carver, c Crosland b Metcalfe 18, R Borrowdale, c Bukhari b Spaxman 16, J Quinn, b Spaxman 18, R West, not out 39, J Bousfield, c Bukhari b Spaxman 4, R Dixon, not out 33. Extras 17 Total 337/7 (48 overs).
Bowling: L Metcalfe 11-2-49-1, A Riaz 5-0-32-0, I Qureshi, 2-0-25-0, H Bukhari 13-1-85-1, M Zahid 8-0-58-1, H Spaxman 8-0-65-4, T Bell 1-0-14-0.
Thornaby: H Bukhari, c Quinn b Bousfield 27, J Watson, c West b Carver 15, M Burgess b Usher 21, L Harper, b Seth 47, H Spaxman, b Bousfield 35, I Qureshi, c Quinn b Bousfield 35, A Riaz, b West 13, M Zahid, b West 2, D Crosland not out 11, T Bell not out 3. Extras 8 Total 217/8 (27 overs).
Bowling: J Bousfield 6-0-48-3, R Dixon 2-0-21-0, T Merryweather 2-0-19-0, K Carver 9-1-58-1, F Usher 4-1-37-1, S Seth 2-0-23-1, R West 2-0-10-2.
Barnard Castle won by 23 runs
The Hundred
Great Ayton II v
Barnard Castle II
A CUP final awaits for the seconds after a thriller away at Great Ayton. A match winning performance from Dan Lee with both bat and ball took the side into their first final of the year.
After winning the toss and electing to have a bat, the Barney team were three down for just 32.
A partnership was needed when Joe Toulson joined Dan Lee at the crease. Not for the first time this season the former Raby Castle man stepped up. His 64 off 37 balls put the visitors in the driving seat. He was accompanied brilliantly by Toulson, and a partnership of 52 stabilised the innings at a vital time.
A quickfire 16 off six from captain Stanwix at the end led Barney to 152-7.
In reply, Oscar Usher bowling Joshua Thompson in the first over for a duck was just the start Barney required. Wickets then fell consistently and requiring 12 off the final set of five, Dan Watson took two wickets to finish the job.
Barnard Castle II 152-7 (100 balls) D Lee 64no , J Toulson 25. Great Ayton II 146-9 (100 balls) A Liddle 39, T Crown 30. D Lee 20-8-26-3, D Watson 15-4-28-2.
l A STUNNING knock of 174 from just 68 balls by Billingham pro Tayyab Tahir put paid to the first team’s hopes in the Hundred.
Tahir’s knock helped Billingham to 224-5, Barney replying with 172-5.
Hartlepool II v
Barnard Castle II
THE long trip to Hartlepool ended in a rain interrupted defeat.
Barney fielded a strong side with Richard Watson and James Alderson coming in. Alderson scored 31 and Watson 27. Further down the order Joe Toulson contributed 22 but no-one else could make it into double figures. They ended up stumbling to 124 all out.
Hartlepool made their way comfortably to 78-2 before the rain struck and wallowing a two-hour break, the home side eventually knocked off the runs for three down. Johnny Callaghan top scored for Hartlepool with 57.
Barnard Castle II: 124 all out (37.2 overs, R Watson 31, J Alderson 27. M Bowman 15-6-33-5, J Rathbone 15-2-54-3). Hartlepool II: 125-3 (27.3 overs, J Callaghan 57, J Richards not out 23. R Watson 13-3-38-2, K Harland 3-0-14-1
Hartlepool II won by seven wickets
Darlington and District Cricket League
UNBEATEN Haughton CC claimed the league title before the end of July and with three games to spare.
With just ten teams in the A division this year, the defending champions have an unassailable 300 points after second place Middleton St George lost in a high scoring game against Cliffe.
Cockerton’s 146-5 off 40 overs was never likely to trouble Haughton’s batsmen and so it proved as opener Craig Edwards smashed an unbeaten 84 on the way to a nine wicket win inside 27 overs.
MSG posted a competitive 196-9, but Cliffe’s batsmen were up to the task, reaching the target for the loss of just four wickets.
Colin Biglin and Simon Warne hit 40s as Eryholme made 163-5 against Barningham, who raced to victory by four wickets thanks to Nick Wright’s unbeaten 46.
The bowling performance of the afternoon came from Raby Castle’s James Forster, whose 7-18 helped dismiss Lands for just 48. Mark Humble picked up the other three wickets for just 15.
Raby lost just the one wicket chasing down the small total.
Four wickets apiece for Chris Braithwaite and Andrew Gedye ensured Aldbrough St John made short work of the East Cowton innings.
Struggling Cowton were bowled out for 75 with ASJ knocking off the runs for the loss of three wickets in the 12th over.
In the B division, Middleton-in-Teesdale were bowled out for just 73 by Oxbridge, who knocked the runs off for one wicket down.
The games at Catterick Village and Middleton Tyas were rained off and there were wins for Richmondshire V against Cliffe II and Spennymoor, who bowled out Aldbrough St John II for just 30.
In the C division, Etherley’s home game against Cockerton II was another to fall victim of the weather.
Durham and North East League Division 2
Evenwood 153
Murton 99
EVENWOOD secured the points in a rain-affected game.
Luke Bannister top scored with 31 and he received support from pro Sawan Kankanange and Owen Pedelty as Evenwood’s batsmen gave their bowlers something to defend.
Rain intervened and the hosts were set a revised target of 112 off 32 overs – but the Evenwood attack was up to the task, taking the final wicket with four overs to spare.
The win keeps Evenwood in the a chance of claiming the second promotion spot in the division, sitting just 13 points behind Boldon CA, in second, but who have played one more game, and eight points adrift of Tudhoe in fourth.
On Saturday, Evenwood welcome Bill Quay to the Randolph Social Welfare Ground. Start time is 1.30pm.
