Shildon Railway Cricket Club’s young first team learned a hard lesson in Saturday’s defeat to new league leaders Burnmoor, when a six off the penultimate ball of the match, saw the visitors home in the gloom at 7.30pm.
Despite the ground at the Sportsfield being doubtful as to whether play would go ahead, Burnmoor took the decision to travel to Shildon and the umpires deemed the pitch fit to start play shortly after 1.30pm.
The weather interrupted Shildon’s innings, which started promisingly, as openers John Paul Nash (53) and skipper Greg Upton (80), took the score along steadily to 122 without loss.
However, once Upton was removed, the innings slumped before recovering to allow a declaration at 182 for 7. The weather deteriorated, as Burnmoor raced to 74 and play was halted but surprisingly the players returned to the field, where the visitors’ strong batting line up of former county players and a South African professional, paced itself to victory at 183 for 2.
The 2nd team’s trip to Burnmoor was curtailed by the weather with the home side having declared at 181 for 3.
On a much brighter Bank Holiday Monday, the 1st XI looked to be in with a shout at Evenwood, when they reduced the home side to 134 for 7 but Evenwood are made of sterner stuff and recovered to reach 216 all out.
In reply, Shildon were bowled out for 88, only skipper Greg Upton (36) and John Paul Nash (20) achieving a double figure score.
The second team earned an honourable draw at the Sportsfield, having declared at 200 for 9, after 45 overs, Martin Horner (48) and Michael Roberts (40) top scoring. Evenwood’s reply looked to be on course for victory but Lloyd Horner’s 3 or 27 slowed their progress and at close of play the side had made 181 for 7.
Saturday sees the first team at Marsden with the second team at home.
The second team also plays on Sunday, this time at Bill Quay, in their final league game of the season, the fixture having been re-arranged to allow remedial work to commence on the ground at the Sportsfield.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
