Another busy weekend of cricket at the Hill with 5 senior fixtures. Our teams remained unbeaten on Saturday with 2 wins and a winning draw, and on Sunday there was a century for John Chambers, in an abandoned game, and another good win for NEPL 3rd XI at Jesmond. Read on for full details :
23 July - 1st XI v Hetton Lyons (home) - NEPL Premier League - Premier Division
Match report to follow
The 1st eleven recovered in fine style after last weeks mauling at Sunderland, with a winning draw at home against high flying Hetton Lyons.
Skipper Pete won the toss and elected to field on what proved to be a tricky wicket for the batters. Hetton posted 210 for 8 in the maximum 58 overs permitted. Those extra few overs proving crucial at the end as we finished only 7 runs short in our alloted 52 overs. Some miserly bowling from opening bowlers Callum Harding 1 for 39 off 15 overs, and Kyle Coeter 1 for 38 off 14 overs, kept the strong Hetton top order in check, Max Williamson with 3 for 41 off 11 overs, and Luke Doneathy 2 for 10 off 5 overs, doing the damage to the middle and lower order.
The Hill reply had a steady start with a 55 run opening partnership between Angus Guy and Adam Heather, and at 123 for 2 we looked in a good position to knock the runs off, however once Angus fell for 86, we found ourselves at 179 for 6 and with overs running out. Some excellent late bowling kept it tight and we narrowly failed to reach the target of 210, finishing at 203 for 7.
The match scorecard is available here https://benwellhill.play-cricket.com/website/results/5024243
23 July - 2nd XI v Hetton Lyons (away) - NEPL Premier League - Division 2 - Matty Hynd's match report
The second team travelled to Hetton with probably the strongest side of the season being able to leave out a some strong players.
We won the toss and elected to bat on a well used surface that was slightly damp after the overnight rain. We got off to a bad start losing Hynd, Ahmed and Aatif early leaving us 25/3. However not for the first time Moore and Nadella started to rebuild, taking opportunities to score where they could on a wicket that was offering a lot of help to the bowlers. Moore was unfortunate to be given out LBW for 48 leaving us 69/4. Fletcher and Nadella then put on 50 before Nadella was out for a patient and well made 39. Fletcher followed next over and Ben Moody quickly after leaving us 124/7. The promoted Safi and Jones then came together and looked to take us over 150 and Safi and Jones changed the tempo and ran well together, before Safi was out for 13. Jones targeted the small boundary and was rewarded with a quick 26 and we declared on 170/9 in 51 which felt like a good score on the pitch.
Hunter and Moody opened the bowling and were soon amongst the wickets as Hunter in particular was very difficult to play as he removed 5 of the top 6 quickly leaving Hetton in trouble at 25/6. A few of the guys at the bottom hung around but couldn’t score as Hunter continued to terrorise the Hetton batters, finishing with brilliant figures of 7-19. Safi joined the attack and picked up 2 quick wickets 2-8 as Hetton were all out for 48 with no-one reaching double figures. Another good performance and 28 points keeps us in 5th place with 36 points covering the top 5 and 160 points to play for, pointing towards an exciting end to the season as 4 of the top 5 play each other next Saturday.
The match scorecard is available here https://benwellhill.play-cricket.com/website/results/5024746
23 July - 3rd XI v Humshaugh (home) - West Tyne League - Chris Pounder's match report
The weekend saw a double header for West Tyne League 3’s with two home games. Saturday saw a much needed win against the league leaders Humsaugh at Medomsley.
After losing the toss and being asked to bat we finished on 175/7 with Davey Ladd top scoring with 68 follwoed by 27 for Joseph Torre (which included his first senior 6) and 25 each for Andy Dawson and Taylor Matthews.
In reply Humsaugh we’re a wicket down after the first ball of their reply but consolidated to reach 106 before the dangerous Renton was caught by keeper Max Tidmarsh off the bowling of Warren Poxon for 77.
From then on wickets fell regularly and Humsaugh would eventually be bowled out for 143. Wickets went to the skipper (Chris Pounder) with 4/13, Joe Torre 3/32 and 1 each for Warren Poxon, Abu Siddique and Taylor Matthews.
The match scorecard is available here https://benwellhill.play-cricket.com/website/results/5295120
24 July - 3rd XI v Hexham Leazes (home) - West Tyne League - Chris Pounder's match report
Sunday would see the game against Hexham Leazes at The Hill abandoned after rain brought an end to proceedings 11 overs into Hexham Leazes reply.
After winning the toss and batting first we finished on 232/6 with 102* for the returning Chambers (John not Geoff) 68 for Rohaan Aatuf and 28 for Laura Pearson. Hexham Leazes we’re two wickets down when rain set in
A total of 31 points taken over the weekend increased the gap between ourselves and Belsay at the bottom
The match scorecard is available here https://benwellhill.play-cricket.com/website/results/5295122
24 July - 3rd XI v Newcastle (Away) - NEPL Premier League - Sunday 1st Division - Barry Pearson's match report
Joe Fletcher's NEPL team maintained their recent good form as they dodged the rain to beat Newcastle by 6 wickets at Jesmond.
After losing the toss, the Hill put in an excellent performance in the field and restricted the home team to 141 for 9 in their 40 overs. Owen Blackburn with 3 for 24 and Joe Fletcher with 2 for 24 led the way, ably supported by Haroon Malik with 1 for 22 and Shay Marley with 1 for 38, but pride of place went to 13 year old leg spinner Aaron Armstrong who bowled with great control for his 1 for 20 from 7 overs.
A heavy rain shower stalled the Hill reply and the target was reduced to 103 from 29 overs. With more rain looking likely, the Hill batted aggressively and knocked off the runs in the 17th over with useful contributions from Zain Ahmad, Ben Moody and Matthew Lockey before Taylor Matthews led the Hill home with an excellent unbeaten 30.
The match scorecard is available here https://benwellhill.play-cricket.com/website/results/5134491
