In the semi-final of the N.Y.S.D. 100 Cup, Shildon lost the toss and batted first on a cool, blustery Wednesday evening at the Hackworth Road Ground, reports John Brennan.
Steve Forster certainly warmed things up, as he struck 63 from 36 balls, including seven 4s and three 6s. The team totalled 168 for 4 from the 100 balls, as skipper Greg Upton made 37 from 23 balls, before being run out on the penultimate ball of the innings. In an entertaining match, Yarm put up a good fight but finished at 142 for 6 after some tight bowling from Shane Rowley (2/25) and Dan Nelson (1/18). So Shildon will face Barnard Castle in the final, to be held on N.Y.S.D.100 Finals Day, at Marton, on Sunday 25th August. This final is the second of three on the day, scheduled to start around noon.
Top side Richmond were the visitors to Hackworth Road in the North Yorks. & South Durham Premier Cricket League Division 2 and the visitors were put into bat after Shildon won the toss. Richmond started well but a great spell of bowling by Robert Nevison (4 for 37 from 15 overs) put the brakes on, as the Railwaymen fought back to contain the score to 206 for 9 from the 50 overs. Ben Ryan, 2 for 68 and David Robinson, 2 for 39, were the other wicket takers.
Shildon then got off to a cracking start, with skipper Greg Upton leading the charge with 35. But with the score on 50, in only the 7th over, Upton was out. The Railwaymen were well ahead on the run rate and now had just over 43 overs to score156 runs. Shildon’s batsmen needed to spend time at the crease, but this they failed to do, as the side was all out for 139 in less than 30 overs. Again, a very disappointing display of batting, only three other batsmen scoring into double figures and this result sees the team drop to 5th place in the division, now totally out of contention for promotion.
Sitting top of the league, an understrength 2nd team travelled to Haughton in their Darlington & District Cricket League Division B fixture to find that the home side was almost unrecognisable, having been bolstered by an influx of first teamers, as Haughton’s first team had had their match conceded. Haughton hammered 285 for 3 against Shildon’s ten men and matters only got worse when Shildon were reduced to 8 batsmen for their innings. The Railwaymen were all out for 63 in under 12 overs. An afternoon to forget, but remarkably, as other results went their way, Shildon remain top of Division B, but only just!
In the next round of league fixtures on Saturday, the 1st XI travel to Saltburn whilst the 2nd XI is at home to Middleton-in-Teesdale.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
