By John Phelan
The Bishop Auckland Cricket Club’s 1st team are not finding life in the Darlington Building Society N.Y.S.D. Premier League to their liking this year, as they are currently bottom of the table with only 34 points after two draws and four defeats.
A fortnight ago, when they visited Marske, records crashed as a total of 713 runs were scored from 100 overs, the highest ever combined score in a single match.
Marske declared on 372-4 while Bishopreplied with 341-5 with 17 year-old Ben Thompson making 92, his highest score. He and Dan Conway put together an opening stand of 166 runs, with Conway making 63 before Phil Holdsworth blasted 76 more runs from 55 balls, but it wasn’t enough.
Last weekend opener Dan Conway was amongst the runs again with 49, while his partner Matthew Cowling made 55 to give Bishop a solid start at home to Great Ayton. However, after that only Phil Holdsworth’s 19 runs, Chris Sawyer’s 19 runs and Craig George with 18 runs seriously troubled the scorer and they finished with 181-9. Great Ayton’s Pakistani professional Lal Kumar, batting at number three, then hit an unbeaten 86 off only 68 balls to give his side a 7 wicket win and putthemtopoftheleague. Kumar had an excellent week as he hit a century in a friendly game and a half century in a cup-tie.
The Bishop Auckland 2nd team entertained Saltburn a fortnight ago, but despite 51 not out from Richie Wells they lost by 8 wickets. Last week they lost by 9 wickets at Thornaby.
The 3rd team have done a little better only going down by 40 runs to Mid- dlesbrough two weeks ago. Mark Little put in a fine all-round performance with 4-17 and 32 runs. Last Sunday at Blackhall they won by 6 wickets. The home side batted first but were restricted to 113 all out, with Mark Little amongst the wickets again with 3-22 and Keith Oldfield turning back the years to take 4-14. In the Bishop reply of 114-4 that man Mark Little performed well again making 33, veteran David Taylor 42 not out and Tom Newton 22.
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
