Newton Aycliffe’s 1st team, sponsored by Franks the Flooring Store, put in a fighting performance, but were eventually defeated by three wickets at home to Redcar 1st XI in the NYSD second division. Asked to bat first, Aycliffe were bowled out for a below par 155 after 38.4 overs. Chris Palmer top scored with 37 off 45 balls and his innings took him past the noteable landmark of 11,000 runs for Newton Aycliffe. Adam Gittins also batted well with 29 off 63 balls and captain James Layfield-Carroll chipped in with a belligerent 24 off 25 balls, including two boundaries and two sixes. In reply, Aycliffe made the visitors battle hard for every run, but they eventually reached their winning target after 44.4 overs despite some good bowling from Leo Mercy (sponsored by Yvonne and Bob Wood), who took 2 for 24 and Luke Telford (2 for 52).
The second team put in their best performance of the season to win a tough game by 34 runs, away at Yarm 2nd XI in the NYSD fourth division. Aycliffe were asked to bat first and were thankful for an excellent 2nd wicket partnership of 97 between Matty Greaves (50 off 71 balls) and Matty French (24 off 74 balls) to give their innings some genuine substance. It was Greaves (sponsored by Athena Sports Academy) first half century since 2020 and it included seven boundaries. Aycliffe then suffered a dramatic collapse, losing their next nine wickets for just 32 runs with only 15 year old Will Dearden showing any resilience with a fighting 12 not out off 25 balls. When Yarm replied, the young four pronged Aycliffe attack bowled superbly to defend the small total and dismiss the homeside for just 95 off 37.4 overs. Eighteen year old Ramzan Hussain finished with career best figures of 4 for 19 and was supported well by both 19 year old Matty Greaves (3 for 29) and 15 year old Will Dearden (2 for 13). The youngest member of the teenage quartet, 14 year old Will Moffatt took his first senior wicket to finish an impressive nine over spell with figures of 1 for 26 to help Aycliffe to their first victory of the season.
The club’s Ladies team had another brilliant win with a true all round team performance as they defeated Rockliffe Park away by 45 runs in the Hambleton League. Batting first, the Aycliffe ladies all performed well with five individual players reaching double figures. Tina Masterman continued her amazing form when she again top scored, this time with an unbeaten 16 off 11 balls and other useful contributions came from Addison Jones (12 not out off 11 balls) and Louise Jackson (12 off 11 balls). In reply, Rockliffe were pegged back by some tight bowling and fielding with six players taking at least one wicket leaving the homeside well short of their winning target.
Our U17’s put in their best performance of the season to comfortably beat Stockton away by 8 wickets in the quarter final of the NYSD Plate cup competition. Stockton elected to bat first and reached 126 for 3 in their 20 overs with Will Dearden, Tom Norman and Leo Stout sharing the three wickets that fell. In reply, superb innings by both captain Tom Dearden (51 retired off 38 balls) and Ramzan Hussain (55 retired off 36 balls) put Aycliffe firmly in the driving seat and then Adam Shaw (10 not out) and Liam Scott (4 not out) safely guided Aycliffe home to an excellent victory after 17.2 overs.
The U11’s had a terrific win by 58 runs at home to Norton to move up to 4th place in the NYACC League. Morgan Jones top scored with an unbeaten 15 off 14 balls and Gracie Hayman also batted well with 12 not out off 15 balls. In reply, Aycliffe’s Lydia Myers bowled superbly, taking two wickets and not conceding any runs from her three overs. Nial Hadland (2 for 3) and Carys Myers (1 for 6) also bowled well to help their team to a comfortable victory.
Photo: 1st team batsman Chris Palmer who top scored for the 1st team on Saturday and extended his club aggregate runs record past the 11,000 milestone.