Saturday’s league clash with Redcar, in the North Yorks & South Durham Premier Cricket League Division 2, saw an early 11am start at Shildon’s Hackworth Road Ground, reports John Brennan. Shildon put their opponents into bat, and they progressed steadily to 48 before the first wicket fell. Turnbull, scoring 71, again held the Redcar side together and the innings closed in the 47th over at 184 all out. Aussie Ben Ryan, with another five-wicket haul (5-75), was Shildon’s most successful bowler.
Rain threatened and Shildon knew that they had to score quickly to achieve the win, or was it so that they could watch the England match? Openers Upton and Horner answered the call, putting on 63 by the 11th over, when Horner fell for 36. Greg Upton then served up a real captain’s innings, as he stampeded the side to victory with a magnificent 105 not out, including twelve 4s and five 6s, the Railwaymen ending on 185 for 2 in 27 overs. The top of Division 2 now looks like this: First, Richmond P 13, 219 Pts; Second, Shildon P 12, 206 Pts, and Third, Barnard Castle P 12, 202 Pts.
On Wednesday, in the NYSD 100 Cup Competition, the 1st team thrashed local rivals Bishop Auckland (not Newton Aycliffe as reported last week). Shildon won the toss, chose to bat and scored 115 for 8 from their 20 five ball overs. Skipper Greg Upton led the way with 36 from 29 balls. In reply, the Bishops had no answer to Jacob Dinger, whose 7 for 15 saw the visitors skittled out for 65 in just 52 balls. This young Aussie is going to be a big miss to the side when he returns home for three weeks at the end of the month.
The 2nd team’s top of the table clash at Cliffe in the Darlington & District Cricket League Division B also started early, and ended with a great win for the Railwaymen, who now top the division by 7 points. Shildon won the toss and put Cliffe into bat. They made a good start, putting on 59 for the first wicket. Despite 87 not out by Richard Mallender, the home side and league leaders were all out for 197 in the 40th over. Nathan Lawson (3 for 48) and Rob Marquiss (2 for 8) were the pick of the Railwaymen’s bowlers.
Shildon stuck firmly to their task as Chris Young (57) and skipper Matthew Summerbell (43) took Shildon to victory in the 32nd over, for the loss of 7 wickets.
In the next round of league fixtures on Saturday (13th), the 1st team travels to Middlesbrough, whilst the 2nd team welcomes Richmond to the Hackworth Road Ground.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
