Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club’s 1st team, sponsored by Franks the Flooring Store, travelled to champions elect Norton 1st XI in the NYSD 2nd division and were hammered by 150 runs. Norton were asked to bat first and scored an impregnable 243 all out after 49.1 overs despite some good bowling by Sean Morgan (4 for 48), Matty Greaves (3 for 32) and James Layfield-Carroll (2 for 56). In reply, Aycliffe were skittled for just 93 after 27.2 overs with only Sean Morgan (19 not out), Owen Smith (17 runs), Luke Telford (16 runs) and George Slatcher (14 runs) reaching double figures.
The second team continued their recent good run and came away with a winning draw after torrential rain brought a premature end to proceedings in their NYSD 4th division game at home to Preston 1st XI. Electing to bat first Aycliffe scored an impressive 175 all out after 35.3 overs thanks to a superb innings by vice captain Dan Weldon, who hit his third half century of the season. Weldon was last man out when he was caught on the boundary for 85 off 83 balls and his excellent innings included 12 boundaries and a six. Other notable contributions came from Ramzan Hussain (25 runs), Jai Sander (13 runs) and Leo Stout (12 runs). In reply, the game was finely poised with Preston on 131 for 4 after 31.1 overs and still needing 45 runs for victory when heavy rained forced the game to be abandoned. Harrison Pearson was the pick of the Aycliffe bowlers taking 2 for 15 and both Ryan Patrick and Matty French chipped in with a wicket apiece.
Photo: 2nd team batsman Dan Weldon who scored 85 in their game against Preston 1st XI.