Darlington and District Cricket League
DALE sides Raby Castle and Barningham enjoyed their days out in the sun on Saturday.
At Staindrop, Raby’s opening bowlers Dan Lee and James Forster reduced visitors Cliffe to 22-5 before Ben Howe and Dan Naisbitt led a recovery.
Naisbitt fell for 23 but Howe carried his bat for an unbeaten 54 to guide his side to 121-8 from their 40 overs – respectability, but hardly a daunting total.
Lee finished with 3-25 and Forster bagged 4-29 from their respective ten over spells.
After the loss of the Dent brothers, it was the Lees Simon and Dan who saw Raby home with a minimum of fuss in the 24th over.
Simon finished unbeaten on 66 and Dan added 37 to complete an excellent all round performance.
Barningham made short work of their trip to East Cowton, bundling out the hosts for just 57 in 25 overs.
Chris Wearmouth took 3-6 and there were two wickets apiece for Jake Black, Adam Bellwood and Sam Metcalf.
After the early loss of Toby Newton, Wearmouth and Nick Wright shared an unbeaten half century stand to see Barningham home by nine wickets.
After skittling Aldbrough the previous week, the Haughton bowlers were at it again, this time at Witton le Wear, where the hosts could only muster 36.
Haughton lost two wickets addressing the small chase.
In an afternoon of low scoring, West Park RA were bowled out for 51 against Middleton St George, who won by seven wickets, while Catterick Village were dismissed for 111 by Cockerton, who lost just two wickets in their successful run chase.
By contrast, there were runs aplenty in the B division.
At Cliffe, Anth Coatsworth smashed an unbeaten 110 for Middleton-in-Teesdale’s 253-2 in their 40 overs.
Coatsworth shared an opening stand of 153 with Oliver Welsby, who made 64.
Cliffe’s reply of 189-9 was aided by a staggering 62 extras, which included 43 wides and 13 no balls.
Lands’ good form continued with a comfortable win at Richmondshire V. Jonathan Milroy top scored with 53 as Lands closed on 181-8, while Keiran Brown added 32.
In the field, Michael Crane led the way with a spell of 4-22 from eight overs. He was ably assisted by Ryan Matthews, who picked up 2-25 from his ten overs.
Mark Humble (4-29) and Gareth Walton (3-31) were the pick of Raby Castle IIs’ bowlers at Barton, where the hosts were bowled out for 127.
Tom Harrison (26) and Rob Hayward (30) then put on 60 for the opening wicket and Walton remained 25no as Raby won by eight wickets.
The closest game of the afternoon saw Haughton II beat Spennymoor by one run.
David Nelson top scored in Haughton’s 137 all out.
In reply, Michael Burton picked up four late Spennymoor wickets and it fell to numbers ten and 11 Richard Templeton and Mel Groves to get Spenny over the line with overs running out.
Sadly for Spenny, Groves was run out off the last ball for seven.
In the division’s other game, Eryholme’s 133 was too many for Oxbridge, who were bowled out for 90.
In the C division, Etherley enjoyed a five wicket win after bowling out Barton II for just 52, while Cockerton II (217-2) defeated Aldbrough St John II (183) by 34 runs and Middleton St George II knocked off the 98 posted by Middleton Tyas for the loss of four wickets.
