Saturday 17th June 2023 will go down in Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club’s history after the extraordinary feat of three players scoring centuries on the same day, with Adam Gittins and Luke Telford both scoring hundreds for the first team and Jimmy Newton scoring a hundred for the second team.
The club’s 1st team, sponsored by Franks the Flooring Store, earned another valuble draw in a record breaking game away at Barnard Castle 2nd XI in the NYSD second division. The home side chose to bat first and failed by just a single run to equal the highest ever innings score against Aycliffe when they totalled 323 for 7 after their allotted 50 overs, despite a couple of wickets apiece by Terence Smit and Luke Telford. In reply, opener Luke Telford batted superbly to hit his second century of the season, scoring exactly 100 off 117 balls and he hit 17 boundaries. Adam Gittins (sponsored by BHP Law) then continued the run fest scoring an equally superb career best unbeaten 106 from 134 balls, reaching the boundary on 16 occasions. Aycliffe eventually closed their innings on a mightily impressive 280 for 6 from their 50 overs, which set a new club record for the most aggregate runs scored in a match with 603, beating the previous record by 80 runs.
Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club’s 2nd XI put in an excellent all round performance to earn a draw at home to Yarm 2nd XI in the NYSD 4th division. Electing to bat first, Aycliffe got off to a solid start thanks to a career best score of 37 off 83 balls by Matty French and 29 runs off 41 balls by Tom Dearden. Captain Jimmy Newton came to the crease and immediately attacked the visitors bowling, scoring 50 off 24 balls and then going on to score his first century off just 56 balls. Newton’s brilliant innings eventually ended on 108 from 60 balls and he hit 17 boundaries and three sixes. In reply, Yarm battled hard for the draw as Aycliffe were agonisingly unable to take the last two visitors wickets, finishing their allotted 40 overs on 184 for 8 with Aycliffe’s Tom Dearden taking 3 for 22 and Leo Stout chipping in with 2 for 18 with the ball.
The U17’s won a close game by 14 runs at home to Northallerton in the NYSD Junior League. Choosing to bat first Aycliffe were bowled out for a par score off 118 with one ball of their allotted 20 overs remaining. Ramzan Hussain (sponsored by Dean & Tina Greaves) batted superbly, scoring a career best 47 off 38 balls including five boundaries and three sixes and he received good support from Leon Patel (19 from 19 balls) and Leo Stout (12 off 10 balls). In reply, the visitors were restricted to 104 for 8 in their 20 overs thanks to some outstanding bowling from Tom Dearden (2 for 15), Ramzan Hussain (2 for 22) and 12 year old Joey Hayman (1 for 21). Special mention must also go to Dan Heaton who fielded brilliantly for Aycliffe, taking two catches and claiming a run out.
The U11’s three match winning run was brought to an abrupt end when they lost at home to Sedgefield by 65 runs in the NYACC League. There were however some encouraging performances with the bat for Aycliffe with Morgan Jones (sponsored by Amanda & Mike) top scoring with 24, Jack Collingwood scored 14 and Phoebe Sproat was unbeaten with 12 runs.
Photo: 2nd team captain Jimmy Newton celebrating after scoring his first ever century in Aycliffe’s home game with Yarm.