Cricketers make progress

In midweek it was cup action for Shildon’s cricketers, in the Readman Cup away to Darlington.

Having won the toss and elected to bat, Shildon set about their task, quickly setting a target of 148 to win with captain Greg Upton top scoring with another 50+ score including a 70 run partnership with Tom Wickins.

In the field things were kept tight and boundaries were at a premium as bowlers bowled in the right areas, not allowing the Darlington batters to clear their leg and fire the ball to the boundary.

Ste Forster, Joe Knowles, Jacob Dinger and Carl Crabtree were the pick of the bowlers as Shildon won by 43 runs.

The next round is on Wednesday 28 May at Shildon.

Meanwhile, on yet another glorious Saturday, Shildon hosted Darlington in a repeat of the midweek cup action where the BR triumphed over a young Darlington side.

Having won the toss, Greg Upton decided to bowl first with a new opening pair in Cordie McKendry and Joe Knowles.

A somewhat contrasting start for the pair with Knowles struggling to find any rhythm whilst McKendry hit his straps immediately causing all sorts of issues for the batsmen.

It was inevitable then that McKendry would make the breakthrough with a grubber catching the batter in front and the finger went up. The number 3 shortly followed, guiding a slower ball to Upton at 2nd slip.

With Knowles removed from the attack, Phil Garbutt came on and removed the other opener lbw on the back foot before an absolute jaffa of a yorker to remove the number 5.

With McKendry now having a breather, it was the turn of Rob Nevison, who showed his usual control grabbing a wicket almost immediately, bowling the batsman before a high ball landed in the hands of Upton again to get Nevison’s 2nd wicket.

McKendry then returned to replace Garbutt and another catch for Upton shortly followed before Adam Bayles took two catches, one each for McKendry and Nevison.

The Aussie grabbed his second 5fer, clean bowling the number 10 batsman to wrap up the innings on 122.

Upton and McKendry strode out to the middle to pick up where he left off for Upton who having hit 68* in midweek.

He continued in his destructive form by smashing an unbelievable 80* from just 38 balls.

McKendry batted nicely for his 14 before returning a catch to the bowler before Jacob Dinger showed some fine hitting in a quickfire 18 not out, but the story of the game went to Upton as the BR wrapped up the game in just 15.3 overs with an overall game of just 43.3 overs being bowled.

Next week, the BR travel to Northallerton whilst the 2nd team host Cliffe at Hackworth Road.

On the same sunny Saturday, the 2s travelled to top of the table Barningham with nine players and confidence wasn’t exactly high having not won any of their opening games.

However, what could have been a very one-sided affair turned into the BR’s best performance of the season.

Batting first, Rowley and Moseby set about building a platform, which they did, putting on a partnership of 39 before Moseby was bowled by T Stanwix.

Rowley continued to play some lovely shots around the ground on his way to a brilliant 44, but when he and Paterson fell quickly, Shildon were 61-3.

Chris Young strode to the crease in bullish mood, looking to set about taking on the Barningham attack, but when Waites and Reynolds both departed without troubling the score, the side were at 79-5.

Shildon desperately needed someone to stick around with Young and that man was Captain Clegg. The pair set about punishing the Barningham attack, with Young at his brutal best, dispatching balls to all areas of the ground.

Initially Clegg was happy to sit in and support Young by scampering singles and the two took the BR to 101 at drinks.

Riding his luck a little after the break, Young continued hitting the bowling to all parts and Clegg got in on the action too, hitting three sublime sixes of his own.

The pair took the score past 150 and up over 180 before Clegg’s innings ended with a career best knock of 35. It was a real captain’s knock and the partnership of 104 ensured 5 batting points for the team.

Rob Marquiss joined Young with a cameo of 12 which helped the team over 200 and Young would finally pick up his maiden 100 scoring 103 not out with five 4s and 11 6s. A tremendous knock which was appreciated by the assembled crowd.

With 212 on the board the team were in confident mood. Both Clegg and Rowley bowled well at the top of the innings but couldn’t find the early breakthrough they needed. Clegg turned to Paterson and Young who both bowled well, the latter picking up the wicket of Tunstall, caught behind by a diving Moseby with the score on 127.

With the game slipping out of reach, the team were determined to pick up another bonus point with a second wicket, which they did, when Paterson had the dangerous R Stanwix caught for 97 by Rowley out on the boundary.

Barningham would go on to reach 213 with 8 wickets and 16 overs to spare, but the team will take much heart from pushing the league leaders all the way and picking up 6 points in the process.

It was the team’s best performance of the season and they can take great confidence into next week’s game against Cliffe.

MOTM was Chris Young for his imperious 103no and special mention to 13 year old debutant, Emily Marquiss, who fielded brilliantly out on the boundary, saving many runs in the process.