On Saturday, Shildon Railway 1st team committed the cardinal sin of not batting out their allocation of 50 overs in the North Yorks & South Durham Division 2 match at the Hackworth Road Ground, reports John Brennan.
On a showery afternoon, the Railwaymen were put into bat and made a good start, as openers Upton (40) and Horner (32) put on 60 for the first wicket in 14 overs. With Steve Forster (31) looking in fine form, Shildon looked on track for a big score, despite the drizzle, when suddenly the game turned. Shildon lost Upton, Forster and Ryan with the score on 119 and from this point the innings struggled to progress, as the side was all out for 164 in the 44th over. The failure of middle and late order to spend time at the crease and add runs, is sadly, a common theme to the side’s performances this season. Shildon bravely fought back, as Shane Rowley took three quick wickets and Rockcliffe Park were in trouble at 93 for 6. But the visitors’ lower order dug in, showing the resilience that Shildon had failed to do, and took the team to victory at 165 for 7 in the 37th over. With the two top teams winning, the Railwaymen fell further behind in the race for promotion but remain in third place.
On Sunday the team visited Redcar, with an early 11am start. Redcar elected to bat and Shildon veteran Phil Garbutt made a great start, taking 2 for 10 in his opening 6 overs. With the score at 12 for 2 in the 7th over, Redcar’s batsmen stormed back with a stand of 200 for the third wicket and the innings was completed after 50 overs with a score of 269 for 7. Jacob Dinger 3 for 76, Ben Ryan 2 for 74 and Phil Garbutt 2 for 26 were Shildon’s wicket takers. Greg Upton led from the front in Shildon’s reply, striking 50 from 28 balls, as the skipper and Jacob Dinger charged to 165 after 16.2 overs, when Upton fell for a brilliant 96 from 62 balls. Dinger fell for 55 in the 23rd over with the score on 182 and Shildon seemingly cruising to victory, when the innings was majorly disrupted as three wickets fell for the addition of only 11 runs. Loyd Horner and Ben Ryan steadied the ship with a partnership of 35 in 10 overs for the fifth wicket but then Horner fell in the 43rd over for a well-made 32, leaving the Railwaymen needing 17 runs to win from 8 overs, with 6 wickets down. Shildon won in the 46th over with 7 wickets down, just in time to watch the England match! The Railwaymen lie in third place with a game in hand on the leaders.
The NYSD 100 Cup game at Barnard Castle saw the Railwaymen on the losing end of yet another thrilling tie. Barney won the toss and batted, and opener Ian Swinburn was in excellent form scoring 84 from just 47 balls, whilst C. Dodson made 40 from 18, as the side raced to 185 for 5 from the 100 balls. Shildon made a good start in reply, Greg Upton (25), Jacob Dinger (48 from 26) and Steve Forster, again finding form, (52 from 19 balls, including six 6s), taking Shildon to a good position. However, with Forster’s dismissal in the 15th over, and the score on 138 for 4, the innings fell away and Shildon finished on 164 for 6.
In the Fenwick Cup, the 2nd team thrashed visitors Cockerton on Thursday evening. The Darlington side made 86 for 6, as Shane Rowley, Tyler Claydon and Andrew Clegg shared the wickets. Shildon galloped to victory in the 7th over, making 90 for 1, with Chris Young (52 not out) again feasting on the bowling.
Shildon’s 2nd team dropped to second place in the Darlington District Division B after their game at East Cowton was rained off. The 9 points from the draw meant that main rivals Cliffe, who had won their game, overtook Shildon and now lead by 5 points. Shildon lost the toss and batted well, making 227 all out in the 39th over. Daniel Nelson (34), Nathan Lawson (45), Matty Summerbell (26) and Michael Condron (38) were the pick of the batsmen. The game was finely poised, with East Cowton at 81 without loss after 14 overs, when the heavens opened, and game was abandoned.
This week, as we go to press, the 1st team are at home on Wednesday to Newton Aycliffe in The NYSD 100 and on Saturday are again at home to Redcar in the league. The 2nd team travel to Cliffe in the top of the table clash.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
