NEPL Round Up: Week 5

In the North Group, Ashington had Felling 58-6, having won the toss, with wickets for Matthew Collins (3/17) and Cameron Steel (4/37), before Jake Louth scored 62 from 68 balls batting at number to help the visitors to 160. But Ashington made easy work of the chase, winning by 7 wickets, thanks to Jack Jessop’s unbeaten 64 from 97 balls. He was supported by Jack McCarthy (39) and Ben Harmison (27*). Felling’s Paul Leonard (2/21) took two of the three wickets to fall.

At Denton Bank, Benwell Hill posted 240/7 against Gateshead Fell, with scores above 20 for all of the top six, but no half-centuries. Alex Senior (3/51) was expensive but effective. The visitors fell 76 runs short, despite a run-a-ball 40 from Lee Whitfield. Opening bowlers Kyle Coetzer (2/16) and Rory Hanley (2/22) took two wickets each.

Tynemouth chose to bat first against South Northumberland but only made 148/8 from their 40 overs, thanks to some disciplined bowling from the home side, including 3 wickets for Lee Crozier (3/27). George Harding made an unbeaten 52 from 72 balls, but no one else passed 20. He went on to take four wickets as South Northumberland collapsed from 59-1 to 72-6, but Sean Tindale (39) and Jonny Wightman (19*) guided them to a 1-wicket victory.

In the East Group, Sunderland beat a struggling Whitburn side by 7 wickets. Captain Paul Shields top-scored with 19 as they were bowled out for 92 after being asked to bat first. Micky Allan starred for Sunderland, taking 6/16 and then scoring 42 in their successful run chase. There were also two wickets each for Safyaan Sharif (2/15) and Hamza Tahir (2/12). Whitburn opening bowlers Craig Smith and Kieran Waterson reduced the visitors to 2-2, but Allan and Mark Turner (29*) combined to see them home.

Philadelphia won the toss and chose to bat at Parklands but were bowled out for 130 despite 54 from Ryan Dowens, with 7 of their batsmen making single-figure scores. James Dunn (3/15) and Isaac Unsworth (2/28) did the damage for Castle Eden, before Lewis Williams (39), Alan Unsworth (37*) and Christopher Freeman (21) saw the home side to a comfortable 5-wicket victory.

Burnmoor batted first against Hetton Lyons, having won the toss, and were bowled out for 198 with one ball of their innings remaining. Ryan Pringle (43), Paul Craig (30) and Alex Simpson (41) all chipped in with the bat, while Hetton Lyons leg spinner Ben Whitehead took 4/58. The visitors were bowled out for 106 in reply, with only Stuart Walker (22), promoted back to the top of the order, Jarvis Clay (23) and Chris Martin (26) making it to double figures. Craig Stephenson did the damage, taking 5/15 for Burnmoor to secure their 92-run victory.

Eppleton made an impressive 282/6 against Boldon, thanks to a quick-fire hundred from Robert Talbot (107* from 57 balls, striking at 187.72). He was supported by Kristian Jefferson, who made a measured 59 from 82 balls. Boldon could only manage 172/6 in reply, despite 44 from Joe Coyne and 35 from Oliver Sampson-Barnes.

Luke McCabe (40), Kieran Gohery (33), Greg Patterson (44), Daniel Storey (39*) all contributed to Lanchester’s total of 202/6 against Willington in the West Group, but no one made a half-century. The opposite was true in the second innings, as Willington began with a 103-run stand between openers Adam Khan (84) and Reece Carr (39), on their way to an 8-wicket victory.

Sacriston also beat Burnopfield by 8 wickets, with equally impressive contributions from opener Jonny Bushnell (68*) and Ross Whitfield (55*) who put on 105 together. They had bowled the home side out for 155/10, with three wickets for Jack Keall (3/50) and two each for Luke Husband (2/21) and Nathan Hall (2/15).

Chester-le-Street made the highest score of the competition so far, posting 350/5 against Crook. They had an Andrew Smith century (124 from 68 balls), which included 20 boundaries, to thank for their achievement. He was backed up by John Coxon (88 from 74 balls) and Quentin Hughes (64* from 36 balls). Chester-le-Street then bowled Crook out for 65 to complete a resounding 285-run victory.