Shildon 1st XI produced a dominant performance at Hackworth Road, dismissing Middlesbrough 2nd XI for just 89 before completing an eight wicket victory in only 15.3 overs.
Middlesbrough won the toss and elected to bat, but after reaching 19 without loss they were soon put under pressure by the Shildon attack. Aayush Lekhwani was the standout with the ball, ripping through the Middlesbrough top and middle order. Lekhwani made the initial breakthrough and then took two more leaving the visitors struggling at 49/3. Farhan Ali then joined the action, trapping the number 5 without scoring as Middlesbrough slipped to 56/4. Lekhwani continued his excellent spell by removing the next batsman with a fantastic catch at slip by Bret Upton, before completing his 5fer with a wicket the very next ball. That left the visitors 78/7, with Lekhwani having completely dismantled the Middlesbrough batting order. At the other end, Joe Knowles was equally effective in keeping the pressure on. He eventually removed Middlesbrough’s only resistance, the opener for 29 from 50 balls, with another fantastic catch from Upton. Ali then finished off the innings with another two wickets as Middlesbrough were dismissed for 89 in 25.1 overs.
With only 90 required, Shildon’s reply was built around an innings from captain Greg Upton. Loyd Horner was bowled for 5, while Bret Upton struck two boundaries in his 8 before also being bowled. Captain Upton ensured there would be no further drama, taking the attack to the Middlesbrough bowlers on his way to an unbeaten 57 from 48 balls, including eight fours and a six. He was joined by Lekhwani, who followed his five wicket haul with an unbeaten 6 to help see the game through.
Back to back 25 point wins for Shildon as they moved up to 5th in the table and head to fellow promotion hopefuls Maltby next week.
Shildon Railway 2nd XI made the trip to Haughton but, despite a determined chase, eventually fell to a 39-run defeat.
Haughton won the toss and elected to bat, making a solid start before captain Clegg removed his opposite number for 28. The second wicket partnership took the score to 127 before young Vinnie McCormick made the breakthrough and female star Kate Ibbertson took another. Unfortunately the hosts continued to score strongly pushing their score up to 229/6 from the 40 overs. Thomas Jacobs was the pick of the Shildon attack with 2/29 from seven overs, while Clegg, McCormick, Ibbertson and Darren Waites each claimed a wicket. Shildon’s reply got off to a difficult start, losing Jacobs first ball and slipping to 47/4 despite a quick 14 from Matty Franklin. Paul Rayner steadied the innings, battling his way to an excellent 51 from 73 balls, including eight fours and a six for his maiden 50. At 113/7 the game appeared to be getting away from The BR, but Nathan Lawson and Vinnie McCormick kept the visitors fighting.
Lawson struck seven boundaries in an impressive 44 from 42 balls, while McCormick added a rapid 28 from 22. Their efforts took Shildon deep into the final overs before Lawson was the last man dismissed with one ball remaining, leaving The BR 190 all out from 39.5 overs.
A disappointing result for Shildon, but Rayner’s half-century, Lawson and McCormick’s late resistance and Jacobs’ economical spell with the ball provided plenty of positives from a competitive performance.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
