Lee Weldon’s weekly round-up from the wicket…
Saturday 24th July – NYSD Division 2
Darlington 2nd XI v Newton Aycliffe 1st XI – weather was cool and cloudy. Newton Aycliffe won the toss and chose to bat first.
Newton Aycliffe 1st XI 180 all out after 45.3 overs
Michael Howe 37, Sam Telford 33 and Luke Telford 24
Darlington 2nd XI 181 for 5 after 50.1 overs
George Slatcher 2 for 39, James Layfield-Carroll 1 for 20 and Michael Howe 1 for 25
Ayliffe put in a disappointing performance away at Darlington 2nd XI and were beaten by five wickets. Michael Howe (sponsored by Yvonne and Bob Wood) was one of the few bright spots of the game when he top scored with 37 from 37 balls in the Aycliffe innings and then took 1 for 25 when the homeside batted.
This defeat drop’s Aycliffe down to 9th place in the NYSD 2nd division with 156 points from 14 games played.
Saturday 24th July – NYSD Division 4
Newton Aycliffe 2nd XI v Guisborough 2nd XI – weather was cool and cloudy. Newton Aycliffe won the toss and chose to bowl first.
Guisborough 2nd XI 150 for 8 after 40 overs
Tom Dearden 3 for 29, Joe Teasdale 2 for 25 and Matty Greaves 1 for 20
Newton Aycliffe 2nd XI 151 for 8 after 31.5 overs
Owen Smith 54 not out, Thomas Dearden 38 and Ryan Patrick 14
Aycliffe’s 2nd team, with an overall average age of just 17, put in one of their best ever performances to beat high flying Guisborough 2nd XI in a proper nail biter by just two wickets.
Fifteen-year-old Owen Smith (sponsored by Tri-Tech) hit his first senior half century and batted with maturity beyond his years to finish unbeaten on 54 from 55 balls faced, including nine boundaries, to help see his team to their winning target.
Fourteen-year-old Thomas Dearden also deserves praise after an excellent all round performance which included 3 for 29 with the ball and then scoring 38 from 63 balls when he opened the batting in the Aycliffe reply.
This memorable win for Aycliffe’s talented young team takes their points total to 144 from 15 games played and consolidates their 8th place position in the NYSD 4th division table.
This week’s senior cricket fixtures:
Saturday 31st July at 1.00pm – NYSD Division 2 – Saltburn 2nd XI v Newton Aycliffe 1st XI
Saturday 31st July at 1.30pm – NYSD Division 4 – Newton Aycliffe 2nd XI v Blackhall 2nd XI