Pools of water still covered the wicket at SecuriCorp Park hours after thunder and lightning had forced the North Yorks & South Durham Premiere Cricket League Division 2 game to be abandoned, reports John Brennan.
Visitors Middlesbrough won the toss and asked the Railwaymen to bat. In the 12th over, with the home side on 41 for 2, the heavens opened, and it was soon obvious that the players would not be returning to the field of play. The dreadful weather put paid to many games in the area and this result leaves Shildon in 5th position in the division.
However, Eryholme avoided the worst of the weather, allowing the top of the table clash in the Darlington & District Cricket League Division C to go ahead. The home side batted first, at Shildon’s request, and made 211 for 5 from their 40 overs. Matthew Brown (2 for 23) and Shane Rowley (2 for 47) were the pick of the Railwaymen’s seven bowlers. Disappointingly, Shildon’s solid reply fell away when their last five batsmen accumulated only 9 runs between them and the side finished on 204 for 9.
This defeat is likely to have handed the title to Eryholme, with the Railwaymen likely to be runners-up. However, it remains to be seen whether this will mean promotion to Division B, as Barton 1st team, who currently are in a relegation position, cannot be relegated to Division C, as their 2nd team plays in that division.
Let’s hope that the weather is kinder next Saturday when Barnard Castle are the 1st team’s opponents at SecuriCorp Park, and the 2nd team makes the short journey to Etherley.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
