It was a second game in the week for Shildon first team against Hartlepool on Saturday.
Having progressed to the semi-finals of the Readman Cup in midweek, the BR were hoping to add a league victory over their opponents.
Having been put in to bat, Greg Upton, sporting a new look having lost his locks, continued his fine form with 49 before Jacob Dinger took over the mantle with a solid and fluent 51, putting the BR in a good position.
Lower order contributions came from Sam Telford and Tom Wickins, before Carl Crabtree scored a handy unbeaten 21 to swell the score to 204-8.
Crabtree and Cordie McKendry opened up the reply and both struck early removing both openers in the opening spell, bowling tightly and offering minimal chances to score.
Jacob Dinger replaced McKendry and on another day would have followed his 5fer the previous evening in the T20 SG Petch Eggleston Cup against Horden CC – a match Shildon won by 20 runs.
Instead Joe Knowles, who replaced Crabtree, and McKendry did the damage taking four wickets apiece as well as a Sam Telford run out which saw the BR home with a couple of overs to spare.
Shildon secured a brilliant 25 points and it’s now on to next week with a trip to the seaside as the side travel to Whitby.
The 2s were away to Aldborough St John, who are currently flying in Division A, with only 9 available this weekend.
Aldborough won the toss and elected to have a bowl, which seems to have suited Shildon in recent weeks.
Starting strongly, openers Dhanesh Dharmarathnam and Rob Marquiss chipped in a good 23 each, before Shane Rowley (65: 9 x fours, 1 x six) and Chris Young (79: 3 x fours, 8 x sixes) arrived to the crease and built a very strong partnership of 120.
Further runs from Andrew Clegg (12: 1 six), Thomas Jacobs (7) and Darren Waites (1) saw Shildon close their innings on an extremely positive 236-5.
The visitors started extremely well with the new ball in hand, as skipper Clegg (6 overs, 1-42) struck gold with the very first ball of the innings.
Young Thomas Jacobs (10 overs, 0-84) showed a great deal of promise from the other end but luck seemed to be on the batsmen’s side, as he couldn’t find a wicket.
After a strong opening spell, Shane Rowley (8 overs, 1-35) replaced Jacobs and instantly brought a breakthrough.
Unfortunately for Shildon, this was the last of the joy as they struggled to break the Aldborough partnership, who knocked off Shildon’s total in 30 overs.
The 2s host Cockerton CC next week, and will be looking to carry the last couple of games positive momentum to get a result and notch their first win of the season.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
