Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club’s 1st team, sponsored by Franks the Flooring Store, were disappointed to come away with a draw after dominating large parts of the game away at Northallerton 1st XI in the NYSD 2nd division. Aycliffe were asked to bat first and reached their highest score of the season, finishing their allotted 50 overs on 228 for 8. Opener Luke Telford (sponsored by Unison) top scored with a superb innings of 50 and with other major contributions coming from Adam Gittins (46 runs), Jack Slatcher (35 not outs) and 26 runs from Michael Howe. In the home side’s reply, Luke Telford (3 for 20) and Michael Howe (2 for 57) bowled well, but Aycliffe only had themselves to blame for not taking all ten wickets as a number of catches were spilled, enabling Northallerton to finish their innings on 213 for 8 at stumps and take the draw.
The 2nd team, which was once again heavily packed with juniors, pulled off another excellent result with a battling home draw against promotion favourites Richmond 4th XI in the NYSD fourth division. Richmond chose to bat first and scored an imposing 215 for 5 in their allotted 40 overs, despite some good bowling from Sean Morgan (2 for 47), Thomas Dearden (2 for 50) and Harrison Pearson (1 for 36). In reply, Aycliffe batted well throughout their innings thanks to fine performances from Sean Morgan (sponsored by Unison), who top scored with 43, Ryan Patrick (24 runs) and Leo Mercy (15 runs). However, it was left to 13 year old debutant Leo Stout (2 not out) and fellow 13 year old Harrison Pearson (1 not out), to safely bat out the last four overs in a tense finale, to see Aycliffe through to stumps at 127 for 8 from their allotted 40 overs and earn their side a well deserved draw.
Photo: Second team bowler, Sean Morgan, in action.
