The first team made their way to Stockton on Saturday in the searing heat. The home side won the toss and like most teams in the NYSD decided to bat first.
Cordie McKendry and Carl Crabtree opened the bowling and the Railwaymen must have wondered whether what chasing target would be as the opener smoked his first ball for 6 and looked to have taken a fancy to the opening pair.
But an important catch from Joe Knowles at mid-on, off the bowling of McKendry, sent the opener back to the hut.
Just a run later and McKendry clean bowled the number three bat before Crabtree entered the fray taking a simple return catch low down at his feet.
At the changing of the bowlers, Knowles and Shane Rowley came in and the latter struck first following a superb catch from Ste Forster stood up to the stumps deputising for Adam Bayles.
Knowles then got into his stride and after a controversial refusal of lbw the over before, got his man in the same method before Forster took a second catch as the batsman chased the moving ball.
McKendry then replaced Knowles and with another wicket for Rowley, wrapped up the rest of the batters to claim his 5th 5fer of the season, with Stockton all out for 154.
The chase got underway inauspiciously as Upton was dropped twice inside the first five overs.
From there though he picked up and the BR raced to 66-0 just after the 10th over with Upton picking up another 50.
However things suddenly took a major U-turn.
Some questionable shot selection as well as good bowling caused a monumental collapse, losing all 10 wickets for just 22 runs.
The BR closed on 88 all out in what was a disappointing conclusion to a very positive first half of the game and from such a good start.
For the 2nds, captain Andrew Clegg led from the front as his career best figures of 8-40 helped them to a valuable win against a shell-shocked Barton.
After a tough first 10 games, seeing Shildon only pick up one victory, the chat was very much about a clean slate and to follow up from Thursday’s Fenwick Cup victory over Haughton.
Clegg won the toss and seemed to have made a confusing call by putting Barton in to bat.
The method in the madness, however, was yet to show. On a roasting hot day at the BR, Chris Young (1-22) struck early, removing Thomson thanks to a sharp grab by keeper Moseby.
Following on from his ‘worldy’ catch against Haughton, the keeper dove in front of Marquiss at first slip to dismiss Thomson and set Shildon on their way. A few balls later, Young was called upon again as he and Dharmarathnam combined to run out F Lumley and leave Barton 14-2.
What followed was the Clegg show. His trademark late swing, bowled 3 Barton batsmen cheaply to leave them 29-5.
The Barton partnership of Howell and Ryan repaired some of the damage to get them to 57 before Clegg had Ryan caught behind by Moseby. Next ball he bowled G Lumley and was unlucky not get a hat-trick as Burkin steered one just past Young at gully.
With Barton 57-7 a tiring Young was replaced by debutant Shirzad (0-6) at the club end. He bowled 3 tight overs whilst Clegg continued to wreak havoc at the other end. First he had Burkin caught behind by Moseby then dismissed Burkin-Watson and Howell in quick succession to leave Barton all out for 68.
It was a devastating display of bowling by Shildon, repairing some of the early season damage.
With only 69 to get, Clegg put his faith in this season’s new opener Marquiss and ‘old faithful’ Moseby to get the Shildon ship sailing.
Marquiss was bowled early leaving the BR 2-1, but Lawson (38no) joined Moseby at the crease and the pair set about chipping away at the Barton total. The pair added 30 runs before Moseby (18) was adjudged caught behind with the score 32-2.
Waites departed without troubling the scorers but the pair of Young (11) and Lawson played some lovely shots to get Shildon within striking distance of a valuable 20pts.
Despite Young being bowled with only 5 runs needed for the win, Dharmarathnam joined Lawson at the crease to see the BR home. Lawson batted a gritty innings and won the game with a glorious 6 over mid wicket.
It was a brilliant win for Shildon who seemed to find a steely resolve to get the job done. It was a vital 20 points which really puts the team back in control of their own destiny this season.
Next week sees the first team return to the BR to face current leaders Rockliffe Park, whilst the second team travel to fellow strugglers Witton Le Wear, knowing another win will go a huge way to their A Division survival hopes.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
