Two out of three ain't bad, league wins for 2nd's and 3rd's but 1st's lose in last over thriller against Burnopfield.
Sat 4 June - 1st XI v Burnopfield (a) - NEPL - Pete Halliday's match report
The weekend started with a heavy defeat in the T20 at Burnmoor on Friday evening, due largely to the Hill team consisting of just 10 players. The hosts posted 209/4, with our 128/7 well short of the target.
On Saturday, we travelled to Burnopfield who have strengthened well over the winter and started the season with some impressive performances. We won the toss and elected to bat first on a good-looking pitch which offered hope of spin later in the day.
Burnopfield rotated 3 seamers in the opening 17 overs of the game, all of which bowled with good pace and consistency, making it difficult for the Hill top order. Despite this, we had a platform at 44/1 before Angus Guy was dismissed for 29. Adam Heather (46) and Luke Doneathy (87) then worked tirelessly in a partnership of 120 to create a solid position for the lower order to capitalise. Small partnerships formed, however the Burnopfield openers returned and restricted us to 233/9 declared from 55.1 overs. Captain Matthew Oswell the obvious pick of the bowling with 5-60. Slightly below par, but enough if we could take early wickets.
The hosts raced to 45/1 inside 10 overs, before Anthony Hunter made a deserved breakthrough. He was unfortunate not to strike again quickly as opener Geffen (73) edged a fantastic delivery between keeper and first slip. At 133-2, and with the very dangerous John Oswell (56) at the crease, a Hill victory looked unlikely. However shortly after the tea break, the excellent Max Williamson (4-54 from 15 overs), removed Oswell and an opportunity appeared. Chances for the Hill quickly passed as we allowed new partnerships to form, perhaps at times without luck as the ball just evaded our fielders on a number of occasions. Former Hill junior Alasdair Appleby (28*) saw the home side to victory with a boundary in the final over. Debutant Laurie Kitchen bowled a brilliant spell and was unfortunate to finish without a wicket.
Ultimately, Burnopfield were slightly better in all areas and deserved their victory. For the Hill, we must learn to capitalise on opportunities when presented and improve our overall standards to replicate the form we showed so regularly last season. We have been unfortunate to miss a number of key players so far this season, but there is light at the end of the tunnel as they start to return.
The scorecard is available here https://benwellhill.play-cricket.com/website/results/5024239
Sat 4 June - 2nd XI v Washington (h) - NEPL - Matty Hynd's match report
After another week of which saw a number of changes to the previous weeks team, we again handed 2nd XI Saturday debuts to 14 year old Warren Poxon and Taylor Matthews.
We again lost the toss and Washington asked us to bat on what looked like a good batting surface. Captain Hynd and Moore opened up and were soon off to a decent shot with Moore striking the ball to the boundary a number of times in the first few overs. Hynd was the first out for 19 but the score was 78/1 in under 20 overs. Moore kept attacking was soon on his way past another hundred but was out soon out for 107 from 83 balls. Aatif (21) and Fletcher (13) also fell leaving us well set at 170/4. Dawson and Nadella batted positively and put on a quick 80 for the 5th wicket, before Dawson was out for a well made 43 from 36 balls. Nadella was closing in on his maiden Hill 50 and he passed this in the final over and we declared at 50 overs on 271/6.
Washington started positively against attacking fields and Kilpatrick removed one of the openers (26/1) but the other opener Cutter kept attacking and Washington soon passed 50. Change bowlers Aatif & Bhuiyan quickly removed the numbers 3 & 5 but Cutter was still in and closing in on 50 when Kilpatrick removed him for a well made 42 from 44 balls, leaving Washington 75/4. The game entered a bit of a lull and Washington moved up to 130/4. Taylor Matthews then changed the game with 2 wickets in 2 balls and then an over later he picked up his 3rd leaving Washington reeling at 134/7. Fletcher then removed the next 2 wickets and when Kilpatrick bowled the number 11, with 10 overs remaining, we had managed to bowl Washington out for 153 with 10 overs remaining. All the bowlers chipping in with wickets Kilpatrick (3/20), Safi (1/20), Aatif (1/41), Matthews (3/21) & Fletcher 2/15). All together a good team performance and a good 30 points.
Next week sees another home game against South North where we hope to have a few more senior players back.
The match scorecard is available here https://benwellhill.play-cricket.com/website/results/5024802
Sun 5 Jun - 3rd XI v Mitford (h) - West Tyne - Chris Pounder's match report
We recorded a long overdue victory in the West Tyne League that moved us off the bottom of the league and above Belsay by 8 points and within a point of Mitford who were beaten by 10 wickets at the Hill.
Losing the toss we were asked to field on what was an inviting wicket at the bottom only a few meters from the boundary.
With that said an early disciplined bowling display restricted Mitford to 50/6 in the 22nd over but knocks of 44 from Patel and 43 from Lees would see Mitford reach 144/6 from their 40 overs. Taylor continued his good form with the ball over the weekend returning figures of 3/20 from his 8 overs. Wickets also went to the skipper, Joe Fletcher and Owen Blackburn.
In reply the hill made light work of chasing down the runs in the 19th over with Rashid Shad top scoring with 77 not out and Rohaan Aatif 61 not out.
The match scorecard is available here https://benwellhill.play-cricket.com/website/results/5294931
