Newton Aycliffe’s 1st team, sponsored by Franks the Flooring Store, beat the storms and then had a dramatic victory by the narrowest of margins at home to Saltburn 2nd XI in the NYSD second division, thanks to an extraordinary all round performance by vice captain James Layfield-Carroll (sponsored by Bob and Yvonne Wood). The visitors chose to bat first and were bowled out for 204 after 48.3 overs thanks to three wickets apiece from Layfield-Carroll, Luke Telford and Matty Greaves. Because of stoppages, due to heavy rain, the Duckworth-Lewis calculation was used to set Aycliffe a revised target of 157 runs to win in 31 overs. Aycliffe got off to a poor start and were struggling at 33 for 3, but Chris Palmer steadied the innings with an excellent 42 runs off 69 balls, including two boundaries and two sixes. Aycliffe continued to lose wickets and were well behind the run rate until James Layfield-Carroll came to the crease and he immediately got stuck into the Saltburn attack, smashing them to all parts of the ground. Layfield-Carroll reached his first ever half century off just 22 balls, just missing the club record by two balls and eventually finished with an unbeaten career best score of 61 from just 25 balls faced to help his side to a tense one wicket victory with just five balls of the innings remaining. This match was sponsored by Unison.
The club’s 2nd XI game away at Marske 2nd XI in the NYSD 4th division was abandoned as a draw after heavy rain prevented the home side from replying to Aycliffe’s first innings score of 133 all out after 37 overs. Captain Jimmy Newton top scored with 30 off 16 balls and he received good support from both Matty French (28 off 49 balls) and Patrick Howe (23 off 61 balls).
Photo: First team batsman James Layfield-Carroll in action.