By John Phelan.
After losing to Middlesbrough in the league and then going out of the Kerridge Cup at home to Hartlepool last Friday the Bishop Auckland C.C. 1st X1 got back to winning ways against Northallerton last Sunday after their Saturday fixture at Blackhall fell victim to the weather. Dan Conway and his brother Jack were the principal performers in the win over Northallerton.
Dan opened the innings with Ben Usher as Bishop took first knock on a bright and sunny afternoon at Kingsway. He survived a couple of chances when he was dropped in the slips early on as was Usher. The pair however soon got on top of the Northallerton attack with Usher in particular hitting a couple of sweet 4’s and a 6.
Just when it looked as if they would put together a century opening stand Usher went down on one knee to sweep a ball from Bentley.
It looked from the boundary edge as if Usher had played the ball to fine leg with his bat but Bentley appealed for LBW and his appeal was upheld by the umpire. Usher was not happy with the decision and there was an exchange of angry words with the umpire before he left the field. Dan Conway was eventually out in the 42nd over for 58 runs and after that only Graeme Wrightson with 28 not out got on top of the bowling to leave Bishop on 194-7.
After tea Phil Holdsworth and Chris Sawyer opened the attack for Bishop but they were replaced by Jack and Dan Conway in the 8th and ninth over respectively.
Wickets fell at regular intervals to the two brothers, but Jonathan Barnes batting at number 6 proved difficult to remove. He also punished the bad balls with boundaries.
Barnes was still at the crease and there were 3 wickets left when Dan Conway started the 41st over with a draw looking a distinct possibility. First he removed Robinson LBW although the umpire took his time to raise his finger. Then, in two sensational balls he clean bowled Bartram and Chandler to give him a hat-trick, Bishop the win, and leave Barnes marooned at the other end on 49 not out. No better way to finish a game. Dan Conway5-21, Jack Conway 4-49.
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
