NEPL Round Up: Week 4

By Amy Hearn

All is still to play for at the half-way point of the group stages in this year's Banks Salver competition.

Opener Simon Birtwisle contributed 86 from 95 balls, including 5 sixes, to South Northumberland’s first-innings total of 173/10 against Felling in the North Group, but 9 batsmen made single-figure scores as Chris Goudie took 5/25. Felling were bowled out for 77 in reply, despite 31 from in-form batsman Dale Shaw, and there were 4 wickets for Lee Crozier as the visitors won by 96 runs.

Elsewhere, Blaydon bowled Gateshead Fell out for 129, Ross Nicholson taking 4/19. The Fell found themselves reduced to 68-4 in reply, but a 60-run partnership between Geoff Stewart (40) and Joseph Reynolds (20*) saw the visitors home inside 31 overs.

Benwell Hill won a tight scoring contest against Tynemouth with one ball to spare at Denton Bank. Batting first Tynemouth were bowled out for 147 as Michael Jones top scored with 49 from 80 balls with four fours, but only George Harding (27) offered any further support with the bat. Andrew Smith picked up 4/30, as Benwell Hill were reduced to 21/3 then 95/6 but 45 not out from Peter Halliday from 55 balls saw the Hill home by 1 wicket with one ball to spare.

In the East Group, Ryan Dowens contributed 70 to Philadelphia’s first-innings total of 162/8 against Boldon, but Boldon’s batsmen, Oliver Sampson-Barnes (39) and Joseph Coyne (41), saw the visitors to a watchful 3-wicket victory. Shaux Hauxwell struck with 3/10, but Boldon edged home in the 39th over.

Hetton Lyons made 177/9 from their 40 overs after winning the toss and choosing to bat against Castle Eden - despite being reduced to 10/3 after some tight bowling from Keith Bailey and Isaac Unsworth. Stuart Walker top-scored with 67. Christopher Ralston (3/15) and Cameron Grimwood (4/7) combined to bowl the visitors out for 79 and seal a 98-run victory for the Lyons.

At Church Road, Eppleton successfully defended 168 against Whitburn, winning by 38 runs, Tyler Easton leading the way with 67 supported by 23 from Dean Musther. The home side had collapsed from 144/5 to 168 all out thanks to 5/26 from 16-year-old Ewan Jenkins, but Josh Coughlin (3/18) and Andrew Ebdale (3/20) kept the Whitburn batsmen quiet, with only James Thompson (47) showing any real threat with th bat.

In the West Group, Lanchester made the highest score of the day, 211/6, against Burnopfield. Greg Patterson top-scored with a run-a-ball 87, including 11 boundaries, while Burnopfield’s Matthew Oswell took 4/42. All of Burnopfield’s top six got in, but nobody pushed on and the home side fell 20 runs short with 191 all out in 38.5 overs.

Washington chased down 166 to beat Sacriston by 5 wickets, Martin Hubber top scored with 44 along with 37 from Nathan Hall. Ash Thorpe, Mark Watson and Liam Hickey all claimed two wickets each. In reply Washington won by 5 wickets with Joe Thompson unbeaten on 45 from 79 balls at the end. Josh Wilson added 35 and Adam Hickey 41.

A 53-run partnership for the ninth wicket between Jack Campbell (41) and Brodie Glendinning (11*) rescued Chester-le-Street from 98-8 against Willington, playing an important part in their eventual victory. There were wickets for Liam Simpson (3/9) and John Harrison (4/12) as Willington were bowled out for 77 inside 34 overs.

Where next?

NEPL Round Up: Week 5 Chester-le-Street posted the highest score of the competition so far in this weekend's Banks Salver fixtures.
NEPL Round Up: Week 3 There were centuries for Chris McBride and Finn McCreath in a high-scoring weekend of Banks Salver fixtures.

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