The fantastic bank holiday weekend weather was matched by a feast of cricket, as the Hill teams (senior and junior) won 7 and drew the other of 8 games between Friday and the bank holiday Monday.
The feast of weekend cricket got started on Friday night, as the 1st XI kicked off their NEPL T20 campaign, with a convincing 6 wicket win at Felling. Felling batted first and were bowled out for 84 from their 20 overs, Mohsin Mukhtar taking 3 for 11, Pete Jones 2 for 11 and Kyle Coetzer 2 for 13, in a dominant display with the ball from the Hill attack. Despite the early loss of Phil Bell and Kyle Coetzer, the Hill knocked off the target in 10.3 overs with Luke Doneathy scoring 47 not out from 24 balls. Blaydon are next up at the Hill on Friday 4th June.
The T20 scorecard v Felling is available here https://benwellhill.play-cricket.com/website/results/4590088
Saturday was an altogether different challenge for the 1st XI away to Chester le Street in a red ball 110 over game. The home side won the toss and surprisingly on a red hot day put the Hill into bat. The Hill openers, Mohsin Mukhtar with 42 and James Schofield with 52, ensured we got off to a good start with a stand of 74, however we then lost Kyle Coetzer and Luke Doneathy to fall to 77 for 3. With some tight bowling runs were hard to come, as the Hill eventually posted a score of 190 for 7 off 58 overs, Phil Bell (35), Pete Halliday (21) and Angus Guy (20) the main contributors in the middle order.
Some early wickets, including a cracking run out from Max, and a wicket each for Kyle and Rory saw Chester struggle to 56 for 3 in their reply, however with a good 4th wicket stand Chester looked in the driving seat to knock off the Hill total, but Rory's wicket of Hill nemisis Quentin Hughes with the score at 131 was the turning pointRory and 4 for in form Mohsin Mukhtar s. A third wicket for Rory and 4 crucial late wickets for Mohsin, saw Chester finish 4 short of the Hill score, with the Hill only 1 wicket away from victory. It was a great game to watch with all 3 results still possible going into the final over of the game.
The 1st XI scorecard is available here, https://benwellhill.play-cricket.com/website/results/4603639
The 2nd XI had a cracking win at home to Chester le Street in the reverse fixture. Chester won the toss and batted first posting an impressive 221 for 2 in 55 overs, Matthew Cranston scoring 105 not out, there was a wicket each for Pete Jones and Joe Kilpatrick.
An opening stand of 75 from the experienced Adam Heather (31) and Matty Hynd (39) got us to off a good start, but just like the 1st XI we then lost 2 quick wickets to fall to 75 for 3. It was thanks to youngsters Joe Anderson (41) and Joe Fletcher (43) that we got back on track as they put on 90 for the 4th wicket, some lusty hitting from Joe Kilpatrick (30) and Anthony Hunter (17) late on helped us getting over the line with 2 balls to spare.
The 2nd XI scorecard is available here https://benwellhill.play-cricket.com/website/results/4604745
The West Tyne 3rd XI got back to winning ways against Belsay. Belsay batted first scoring 116 all out from 35 overs, there was 3 wickets each for Matthew Lockey (3 for 19) and Zain Ullah (3 for 28), there was a wicket each for Chris Pounder and the returning Darshana Thiranga. Rohan Aatif with 70 not out and skipper Davey Ladd (36 not out) saw us home for an 8 wicket win.
The West Tyne 3rd XI scorecard is available here https://benwellhill.play-cricket.com/website/results/4796722
The NEPL 3rd XI had a 21 run victory over Gateshead Fell in a low scoring game at the Hill. It was an amazing turn around as the Hill who won the toss and batted fist had stumbled to 34 for 6 at one stage. However skipper Joe Fletcher with 45, and late order runs from youngsters Safiun Bhuiyan (28) and Abu Siddique (19 not out) ensured we set a defendable target of 136 for 9 off 40 overs.
At 79 for 2 the Fell looked in total control, but a cracking run out from Freddie McGregor turned the match, it was one of 4 run outs in the innings. Wickets then fell regularly as the Fell tumbled to 115 all out in the final over of the game. Abu Siddique with 2 for 16 the main wicket taker, there was 1 each for Joe Fletcher, Matthew Lockey, Safiun Bhiyan and Fardin Bhuiyan.
The NEPL 3rd XI scorecard is available here https://benwellhill.play-cricket.com/website/results/4694566
