It was a perfect Bank Holiday weekend for the Hill. Saturday saw the 1st and 2nd teams recording wins over South North in the NEPL and the 3rd team beating Haltwhistle in the West Tyne, and Bank Holiday Monday saw the 2nd team winning the Banks Bowl Cup against Hetton Lyons (more to follow in a separate article).
There was a monumental game at the Hill, where the 1st team recorded a final ball 2 wicket victory over South North thanks to a 6 into the tennis courts from skipper Pete Halliday. If truth be told the game shouldn't of been that close with the Hill in a seemingly commanding position of 182 for 2, needing 41 to win in 10 overs, before a late collapse led to the heroics from the captain when 2 was needed for a tie and 3 to win off the final ball.
South North won the toss and elected to bat and posted a modest 222 all out on a decent batting track from their 50 overs. Callum Harding the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 46, other wicket takers were Mohsin Mukhtar taking 3 for 31, Max Williamson 2 for 44 and Anthony Hunter 1 for 59.
The Hill's reply as stated looked in total control of the game, thanks to an opening stand of 121 between Kyle Coetzer (71) and Mohsin (49), and then numbers 3 Finn McCreath with 28 and number 4 Adam Heather with 30, but the 3rd wicket of Adam triggered a middle order collapse, only for skipper Pete to rescue it with 21 not out, including the crucial winning 6 of the last ball. A cracking game and one of the biggest cheers of the season as the ball sailed into the tennis courts.
The 1st XI scorecard is available at https://benwellhill.play-cricket.com/website/results/4603570
The 2nd XI strengthened their position at the top of the table with a comfortable victory against South North at Roseworth Terrace. We fielded a strong side with help from late team changes that saw the not fully fit Torre and Anderson return to the team, with Adam Heather and WIll Archbold dropped to the first team. Joe Torre was still recovering from the illness that kept him out of the 2nd XI cup tie on Wednesday, but did not keep him out of Newcastle's pubs and clubs that same evening. Joe Anderson was similarly struggling with some snuffles.
Captain Hynd won the toss, batted and we posted a very strong score of 317 for 5 from our 50 overs, mainly thanks to the convalescing Joe Anderson's excellent 146 (115). Haydon Mustard provided good support with 64 (72). Joe Kilpatrick was in the wickets early on in South North's reply supported By Pete Jones and Joe Torre leaving South North 49-5 after 15 overs. Sadiq Khan fought back with 68 (53) in a 99 run partnership with Eashin Ragbir, much to Andy Dawson's visible displeasure. Once that partnership was broken the tail were quickly wrapped up and the 147 run win completed. The second team need just to pick up a handful of points from the remaining two games to be confirmed league winners.
The 2nd XI scorecard v South North is available at https://benwellhill.play-cricket.com/website/results/4604811
The West Tyne 3rd team came out on top against Haltwhistle in a low scoring encounter on our last game at Riding Mill. Posting 106 in only 31 overs Fardin Bhuiyan top scored with an impressive 45 which gave us a fighting chance when we took the field.
Early in the Haltwhistle innings we lost Michael Pollock with a dislocated finger but disciplined bowling saw us home with Shay Marley continuing his impressive form with 4/19 from his 8 overs. Matthew Lockey chipped in with 3/10 and Chris Pounder with 2/8 seeing us win in the 30th over.
The 3rd XI scorecard v Haltwhistle is available at https://benwellhill.play-cricket.com/website/results/4797536
