Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club’s 1st team team sponsored by Lift Right continued their winning streak when they notched up their sixth consecutive league victory with a hard fought win away at Whitby by 34 runs. Aycliffe batted first and quickly found themselves in trouble at 66 for 6, but some excellent batting from Joe Haines (28 runs), Sean Morgan (20 runs) and Michael Howe (19 runs), helped push the total to a more respectable 132 all out after 48.3 overs.
Aycliffe bowlers Dan Craggs, Sean Morgan and Michael Howe battered the homesides batsmen into submission with some firery and hostile fast bowling. Craggs earned the man of the match award for his second consecutive five wicket haul after a magnificent 11 over spell which yeilded season best figures of 5 for 39, including a burst of 4 wickets in 13 balls.The hosts were blown away for 98 after 36.4 overs and this win takes Aycliffe to second place in the NYSD 3rd Division.
The second team played Bishop Auckland and were well beaten by 6 wickets despite a vastly improved batting performance as Aycliffe made an impressive 191 for 8 from their allotted 45 overs. 16 year old Ben Nicholson top scored with an excellent 47, captain Adam Gittins, who also batted well with an agressive 41 and debutant Mick Bloomer chipped in with an enterprising 27 as the pair combined to set a new 2nd team team 7th wicket partnership record of 76. In reply Sam Telford bowled well for Aycliffe taking 3 for 30, but Bishop Auckland star batsman Scott Oldfield dominated the homeside’s innings scoring 121 out of the 192 needed for victory as his side raced to victory in the 36th over.
In mid week, Newton Aycliffe continued their fine start to the NYSD 15/15 competition with a straight forward home win against Darlington RA by 7 wickets. The vistors were bowled out for just 61 after just 14.5 overs thanks to good bowling from both Ross Dixon (4 for 11) and Luke Telford (3 for 10) and the Aycliffe pair combined again, this time with the bat with Telford unbeaten on 24 and Dixon unbeaten on 16, taking their team to victory after only 9.2 overs.
The under 13’s were desperately unlucky to lose by just 4 runs away at Wolviston. There were good performances from Aycliffe’s Dylan Tribley, who top scored with 19 and James Knowlson, who chipped in with 14 and also Jack Lowery, who took two Wolviston wickets.
The club’s u11’s were well beaten at home by high flying Darlington, but there was good performances for Aycliffe by Oliver Brass, who bowled superbly to take one wicket for just 3 runs from his 3 overs and Lucas Pilling, who took two excellent catches and top scored with 11 runs.
