Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club’s 1st team, sponsored by Franks the Flooring Store had a mixed weekend, dramatically losing one game and then bouncing straight back to win on the Monday to still leave them with an outside chance of promotion to division one.
On the Saturday, the first team suffered an agonising defeat by just two runs away at Redcar first team in the 2nd division of the NYSD. Electing to bowl first, Aycliffe found the home side’s batsmen in top form as they scored an impressive 222 for 7 in their allotted 50 overs. Patrick Howe was the pick of the bowlers on a tough day taking 3 for 32 and he was supported well by James Layfield-Carroll, who took 2 for 58. In reply, Chris Palmer (sponsored by Vanila Design and Print) gave the innings some momentum with an excellent 67 from 60 balls, smashing 12 boundaries and a six and Adam Gittins also batted well scoring 30 from 77 balls, including four boundaries. In a tense finale, Patrick Howe (26 runs), Lucas Pilling (25 runs) and James Layfied-Carroll (7 not out) all batted with tremendous maturity, but they fell just short of their winning target as Aycliffe were bowled out for a very gallant 220 after 49.2 overs.
On the bank holiday Monday, the first team bounced back with an excellent 59 run win at home to Northallerton first team. After being asked to bat first, Aycliffe scored what appeared to be an under par score of 147 all out after 46 overs. Darryn Bancroft batted well to top score with 41 and he was given good support from Adam Gittins (29 runs) and Luke Telford (22 runs). In reply Northallerton found Aycliffe’s Jack Slatcher (sponsored by Dean & Tina Greaves) in superb form, taking 6 for 33 and with James Layfied-Carroll mopping up the tail with 3 wickets for just 2 runs, Aycliffe bowled out the visitors for 88 after 32 overs. Special must go to all rounder Michael Howe who scored 11 runs in the Aycliffe innings, which means he joins a select band of Aycliffe cricketers who have achieved the notable seasonal double of 500 runs and 50 wickets.
The 2nd team got their weekend off to a flying start with a thumping win by 111 runs at home to Northallerton 2nds in the NYSD 4th division. Electing to bat first Aycliffe piled up the runs finishing their allotted 40 overs with an imposing 233 for 8. Dave Wright top scored with an aggressive 63 from 55 balls faced (including 10 boundaries and a six), opener Lewis Gimple scored a patient 58 from 93 balls (including eight boundaries) and Dan Weldon had some fun at the end of the innings, smashing an unbeaten 44 runs from only 23 balls, thumping six boundaries and two huge sixes.
In reply the visitors were bowled out for 122 from 29 overs thanks to some superb bowling from all rounder Lewis Gimple, who finished a fine day with 6 wickets for 10 runs to become only the fourth 2nd team player in the club’s history to achieve the notable milestone of scoring a fifty and taking five wickets in a match.
On the bank holiday Monday, the seconds travelled to Preston 1st XI and came out on top with another big win, this time by 100 runs to cap an exceptional weekend for the Club’s second team. Aycliffe lost the toss and were asked to bat first and scored a very respectable 164 for 6 in their allotted 40 overs. Opener Lewis Gimple was again the backbone of the innings with his fourth half century in five innings, this time scoring 68 from 106 balls, George Slatcher scored 40 from 64 balls and Neil Bancroft chipped in with 23 from 26 balls. In Preston’s reply, all rounder Gimple again lead the way taking 4 for 7 and with Matty Greaves taking 3 for 22 and Dan Weldon taking 1 for 18, the home side were dismissed for 64 after 22.3 overs to give Aycliffe’s second team the maximum 50 points from their two games.
Photo: 2nd team all rounder Lewis Gimple who added his name to the Club records after his excellent performance on Saturday.
