Club cricket returned to the North East this weekend with the start of the North East Premier League.
South North started their season with a win at Hetton Lyons. Their 229/10 (50) was anchored by a 70-ball 71 from Michael Richardson, who was eventually bowled by Christopher Ralston (3-56). Karl Turner (13) and Ben McKinney (21) started well, but their dismissals caused a collapse, and Hetton Lyons were bowled out for 86, nine of the ten wickets falling to spinners Lee Crozier (5-19) and Ollie McGee (4-19).
Chester-le-Street (326/9) made the highest score of the day against Whitburn. Andrew Smith scored an impressive 145 (93), including 16 fours and 7 sixes. Sam Harris (55) was solid, but the Whitburn run chase never really got going, and they were all out for 181. There were 3 wickets each for Brodie Glendinning (3-62) and John Harrison (3-20).
Kyle Coetzer made the difference as Benwell Hill (288/3) beat Burnopfield (212/10) by 77 runs. He made 107 (105) and took 3-27, including the wicket of John Oswell, who made 55.
James Thompson contributed 77* as Washington made 182 against Felling, but a 119-run partnership between opening batsmen Joe Cracknell (87) and Arun Phogat (38) propelled the visitors to an 8-wicket victory.
Eppleton's bowlers shared the wickets as they bowled Sacriston out for 215, before Ryan Downes made 76 from 74 balls to lead them to a 3-wicket victory with 10 overs to spare.
Burnmoor set Tynemouth a target of 209 thanks to a 102-ball 101 from Ryan Pringle, which included 11 fours and 2 sixes. Tynemouth's run chase started well, with a 78-run stand between Ben Debnam (54) and Barry Stewart (31), but an excellent spell from Graeme Bridge (6/22) handed Burnmoor a 3-run victory.
In Division 1, Jack Jessop finished 97* as Ashington chased 209 to beat Crook by 7 wickets, and Shahid Khan took 7-24 as Philadelphia beat Gateshead Fell by 18 runs.
At Parklands, Bilawal Iqbal’s 6-18 contributed to Castle Eden’s 179-run victory over Boldon, who were bowled out for 105.
There were some impressive individual performances: Chris McBride made a match-winning 126 (103) for Newcastle (233/4) against Lanchester (230/10) which included 21 fours and 2 sixes, and Jake Louth scored 115 (103) as Willington chased 237 to beat Sunderland by 7 wickets.
Blaydon reached their target of 150 in only 15.2 overs to beat Shotley Bridge by 8 wickets, with runs for Graham Clark (80*) and Ross Nicholson (39*).
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