A mixed set of results from this weekends games, 2 wins, 1 loss and a draw, read on for the full details..
25 June - 1st XI v Chester le Street (home) - NEPL Premier League - Pete Halliday's match report
Much of the build up to our latest NEPL fixture surrounded CLS’ signing of Australian international fast bowler AJ Tye who would be available for the game. The Hill won the toss and elected to bat on a pleasant morning and a good-looking pitch.
The visitors’ bowling attack naturally threatened, however the Hill batters showed great courage and skill, creating regular important partnerships. Angus Guy was excellent for his 57 and formed a fluent partnership of 88 with his Scotland teammate Fin McCreath (47). Coetzer, Doneathy and Mustard all added valuable runs, before some late hitting from Williamson pushed the Hill to 250-9 declared in the 53rd over. Tye returning 3/53 from his 15 overs
A brilliant start from openers Harding and Coetzer reduced the visitors to 16-3. John Coxon battled hard for his 46 and was supported by Cranston, Simpson and Harrison in the middle order. A short rain delay reduced the remaining overs, CLS finished on 188-7. A game largely controlled by the Hill, but not quite enough to claim the victory. Mohsin the pick of the bowlers with 3/26 from 12.
The match scorecard is available here https://benwellhill.play-cricket.com/website/results/5024240
25 June - 2nd XI v Chester le Street (away) - NEPL Premier League - Matty Hynd's match report
We travelled to CLS in good spirits after 3 wins in a row, showing a number of changes. We lost the toss and CLS elected to bat. Kitchen and Kilpatrick opened up with some quality swing bowling beating the bat on a number of occasions and frustrating the openers with nothing lose to hit. Kitchen removing one of the openers in his first over and Kilpatrick eventually being rewarded removing the other opener for 1 from 31 balls leaving CLS, 6 for 2. Torre and Jones came on and kept on the pressure and wickets continued to fall and when Captain Summers was removed, CLS were rocking at 70 for 7. CLS dug in and Colledge and Andrew Bell were patient. Safi came on and Bell counter attacked to the smaller boundary, however they were finding Kitchen more difficult to line up. Safi was replaced by Kilpatrick who struck immediately removing Colledge for 21, leaving CLS still under pressure at 113/8. Kilpatrick then removed 10 and 11 in consecutive balls bowling out CLS for 120 in 48.5 overs. Our bowling and fielding was very good and the best that we have managed this season. Kitchen 1-35, Torre 3-23, Jones 2-31 and Kilpatrick was the pick of the bowling with figures of 9.5-6-10-4.
We knew a positive start was key and Hynd and Moore punished anything off the stumps, Moore was eventually bowled by change bowler Wilson for 37 from 38, leaving us 64/1 and then Hynd mistimed a pull an over later was out for 21 from 39 leaving us 66/2 with work to do. However Mcgeggor continued his impressive form 27* and Heather 24* saw us home in 27.5 overs. This recorded another 30 point win and our 4th win in a row, moving us up to 3rd at the half way point in the season.
The match scorecard is available here https://benwellhill.play-cricket.com/website/results/5024724
Next week we travel to Ashington who we have struggled against in the last 2 seasons, hoping to continue the good work of the last 4 games.
25 June - 3rd XI v Hexham Leazes (away) - West Tyne League - Chris Pounder's match report
The West Tyne League 3’s suffered an 8 wicket defeat away at Hexham Leazes at the weekend. Winning the toss and batting 1st we finished on 175/8 with Davey Ladd top scoring with 51. Warren Poxon (38 not out) Matthew Lockey (33) Haroon Malik (19) and Rory Mustard (12) the main contributors to the total. Fergus Wallace hit a confident 8 towards the end of the game impressing on debut.
In reply the bowling and fielding display was disappointing to say the least and Hexham Leazes made swift work of the 176 needed to win. Whitaker and Davies both scoring half centuries. The Hill wicket takers Warren Poxon and Matthew Lockey.
The match scorecard is available here https://benwellhill.play-cricket.com/website/results/5295079
26 June - 3rd XI v South North (away) - NEPL Sunday League
There was a cracking win for the 3rd's in the NEPL Sunday league at South North. South North won the toss and batted but were restricted to 158 for 8 in 40 overs, Joe Fletcher and Matthew Lockey with 2 wickets each, also a special mention for Fergus Wallace who took his first senior wicket. We knocked off the South North total in the 31st over. Zain Ahmed top scoring with 68, and Safiun Ahsan Diip with 54.
The match scorecard is available here https://benwellhill.play-cricket.com/website/results/5134506
