What a weekend for the Hill, as we bounced back from last weeks defeats and concession, to win all 4 games. On Saturday the 1s recorded a record chase as they knocked off Tynemouth's 302, thanks largely to a superb 171 not out from Yash. The 2s recorded an excellent victory in the reverse fixture, thanks to a 6 for from Safi, and thanks to Davey Ladd's century the West Tyne 3s beat Belsay. Not to be out done the NEPL 3s beat Sacriston on Sunday. Read on for the full details of a remarkable weekend of cricket.
NEPL Premier League - 1st XI v Tynemouth (a) - Won by 4 wickets - Match Report from Phil Haves
Saturday saw us visit Preston Avenue to meet Tynemouth looking to find that elusive second win of the season in the last of the win/lose/draw games.
A warm and sunny day with just a touch of breeze was perfect for a game of cricket & close cut lightening fast outfield and shorter than usual boundaries had everyone thinking this could be quite the run fest.
Home skipper Martin Pollard won the toss and chose to bat first & the opening partnership had reached 69 before McAlindon was adjudged lbw from the bowling Yash who was in the middle of a steady 15 over spell. Debnam was next out for 53 with the score on 134 , caught by Janders off Prahlad. With Yash & Max bowling in tandem for much of the session we rattled through 40 overs before lunch as the score reached 145/2 at the break.
From our point of view a good start to the afternoon session was called for however this was not to be as having been dropped first ball after lunch home youngster Bowman provided acceleration to the home innings in spectacular fashion as he dismantled our bowling with some powerful hitting. From 47 not out at lunch he was finally out for 134 from just 102 balls with 10 maximums, including taking 23 off Rory’s only over.
With Brown & Kimmitt have fallen previously to Dan & Callum further wickets for Luke,with the aid of a somewhat unusual catch from Dan, & Callum ensured we managed 3 bowling bonus points before the home side declared on 302/7 after 53 overs. Yash was probably the pick of the bowlers with 1-32 from his 15 overs amidst the carnage whilst Callum & Luke picked up 2 wickets a piece with Prowler & Dan also chipping in with 1 each.
Yash opened up with Rory and in the very first over he was dropped at gully when on just 2. The pair then eased their way to 50 before Rory (23) was given out lbw to Brown Luke promoted in the batting order didn’t last long & was dismissed for 2. At 58 /2 we were wobbling a wee bit but with Yash, beginning to profit from his early life, gradually moving through the gears & half century partnerships with Belly (11) and Janders (12) kept us in the game as we were up with the required run rate. As on a number of occasions this season Max then gave the innings further impetus mixing solid defence with selective aggression making 49 off 57 balls included 5 boundaries and 2 maximums. His partnership with Yash was worth 83 and when he was out the game was finely balanced at 233/5. Yash was playing the second exceptional innings of the day in the main keeping the ball on the carpet and finding gaps in the field where others couldn’t see them this was the innings of a high class and very determined Professional. He also appeared to be carrying an injury making his effort even more commendable - Skilful and smart batting with total concentration.
It was fitting that skipper Peter (21 not out) and Yash who finished unbeaten on a quite brilliant 171 not out were at the crease with an unbroken partnership of 57 as we completed a terrific & historic 4 wicket victory with 2 overs to spare. The win was our highest ever run chase outstripping the 283/2 against Stockton in 2005. Yash’s innings was also the 3rd highest in league cricket for the Hill behind only Nick Craig(175) & Jacques Snyman (173).
Next week sees the return of the win/lose series of games with the bottom 4 sides meeting each other in what could be a pivotal weekend in the season as Newcastle travel to Castle Eden whilst we entertain Tynedale at NBMS Denton Bank.
Saturdays victory should give us a tremendous boost as we look to continue our efforts to move up the table & secure our Premier Division status.
1st NEPL Scorecard v Tynemouth (a)
NEPL Division 2 - 2nd XI v Tynemouth (h) - Won by 70 runs - Captains Report from Pete Jones
After a chaotic start to the day where neither side had a scorer and the away team had to scrounge keeping kit and a match ball, skipper Jones got his day back on track by winning the toss and batting.
The sun was out and the pitch was flat. Rohaan and Rory made an excellent start getting us to 80 without loss. They then both set the precedent that getting past 40 would be greedy. Abu and Warren followed the trend, also falling in the 30s. The innings proceeded in a similar fashion until we were bowled out for 220 in the 52nd over. Probably a par total but somewhat less than we might have hoped at the half way point in the innings.
At 78-1 Tynemouth looked well set to make it a very close game but the curse of the 30s seemed to still be in effect, claiming the wickets of Turner and C. Koen. The main story was an excellent 6fer from Safi. 5 of his 6 wickets were clean bowled. His skill and accuracy in helpful conditions were too much for Tynemouth. Notable mentions also to Poxon and Armstrong who also bowled good spells. In the end Tynemouth were bowled out for 150 in the 38th over securing 28 points for the 2s.
The result leaves us in 5th position in NEPL Division 2 table.
2nd XI NEPL Scorecard v Tynemouth (h)
West Tyne 3rd XI v Belsay (a) - Won by 32 runs - Captains Report by Chris Pounder
Glorious day, glorious result.
After last weeks concession to South North the West Tyne 3’s overcame Belsay at the weekend winning by 33 runs. Winning the toss and electing to bat first the batters set up victory nicely as Davey Ladd (105) and Ed Moody (33) posted 110 for the first wicket with Ed first to go. Zain would join Davey and would be next to go for 9. Perhaps his appealing for some of Belsays LBW shouts may have contributed to his early downfall as Karma and pad rash set in.
Michael Mac would be next in and out for 12 before Davey would finally tire himself out for a fantastic 105 which included 16 fours. Rashan Hameed (30) and Liam Hynd would see 3’s through to the end of the innings to have us finish on 214/4.
In reply the Hill would get an early breakthrough removing Craig Bertram for 8 before Omar Mahmoud (34) and Nuwan Liyanage added a further 46 runs. The bamboozler Zain Ahmad having Nuwan caught by Ed. Mahmoud and Richie Mills would add another 20, Mahmoud bowled by Michael before the final major partnership of of 40 between Mills and Alan Johnson with the latter bowled by Michael for 15. A steady fall of wickets would see the hill win by 33 runs in the last over with the pick of the bowlers being Ed Moody 3/38 and Michael Maclauchlan 3/29.
The result lifts us up to 5th in the West Tyne League table.
West Tyne 3rd XI scorecard v Belsay (a)
NEPL Sunday 3rd XI v Sacriston (a) - Won by 5 wickets
The NEPL 3s were not to be out done by Saturdays heroics, as they too also recorded an excellent victory. Sacriston won the toss and chose to bat on a glorious afternoon. We bowled well to restrict them to 161 for 9 from their 40 overs, with young spinner Ayush Chakraborty the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 32 off 8 overs, there was also a wicket apiece for Gabriel Mellor, Ben Robinson, Aaron Armstrong, Ellie Foggan and Ed Moody.
In reply we knocked off Sacriston's total for the loss of 5 wickets, with half centuries for Zain Ahmed (57) and Warren Poxon (52no), there was also a very impressive 29 from Jayam Patel who opened the batting with Zain.
The result lifts us to 4th place in the NEPL Sunday First Division table.
NEPL Sunday 3rd XI scorecard v Sacriston (a)
