Newton Aycliffe’s Ladies Senior team (sponsored by Recruitrite) capped a remarkable season, which saw them win every game they played to win two league titles and the prestigious inaugural NYSD Women’s 100 Ball Pairs Cup competition to secure a very unique treble.
The Ladies team followed up winning the Durham Women’s League last week by adding the Durham Women’s Pairs League title to their trophy cabinet when they travelled to Sunderland Ladies and beat them by 21 runs. Tina Masterman (2 for 17), Natasha Grainger (1 for 13) and Lucinda Hall (1 for 17) were amongst the wickets when Sunderland batted. In reply, all rounder Tina Masterman completed an excellent individual performance when she top scored for Aycliffe with an unbeaten 21 off just ten balls. Lucinda Hall (14 not out) and Louise Jackson (12 runs) helped see their side to a well earned victory and their second league title in a week.
The last day of the cricket season, on Sunday 17th September, saw our Ladies team travel to Norton CC for the semi-final and final of the NYSD Women’s 100 ball Pairs competition.
In the semi-final our Ladies were drawn against the hosts Norton, Aycliffe won the toss and decided to bat first and finished with a net score of 79 with Anneliese Myers (16 runs), Lucinda Hall (11 runs) and Amanda Norman (10 runs) all batting well. In reply, the homeside fell nine runs short thanks to good bowling from Lucinda Hall (2 for 14), Louise Jackson (1 for 8) and Natasha Grainger (1 for 25).
In the final, Aycliffe’s Ladies were up against pre-tournament favourites Great Ayton and both teams produced a terrific game of cricket for the large crowd to enjoy. Aycliffe again batted first and reached a net score of 79 runs thanks to vital contributions with the bat from both Lucinda Hall (13 not out) and Anneliese Myers (12 runs). Great Ayton’s strength was their batting so the Aycliffe Ladies knew that they were going to have to be at the top of their game when their opponents began their reply to have any chance of winning. Roared on by some vociferous support from the travelling Aycliffe fans, the team responded by putting on a superb display of bowling and fielding, which had the desired effect of slowly strangling the Ayton innings. Great bowling by Louise Jackson (2 for 9), 12 year old Addison Jones (2 for 11), Ashley Kell (1 for 22) and Lucinda Hall (1 for 26), together with two excellent catches by player of the match Lucinda Hall, took the game right down to the last ball. In a tense finale, Great Ayton needed a boundary to tie the match and a six to win, but Anneliese Myers kept her nerve and bowled a brilliant last ball, which only went for one run, giving Aycliffe a memorable victory by just three runs, sparking joyous scenes amongst the players and the large contingent of Aycliffe supporters.
Newton Aycliffe’s 2nd team, sponsored by Franks the Flooring Store, were beaten by six wickets away at Preston 1st XI in their final NYSD 4th division game of the season. Electing to bat first, Aycliffe were restricted to 115 for 9 in their allotted 40 overs and were thankful to Matty French (29 off 48 balls), Patrick Howe (29 off 99 balls), Dan Heaton (12 off 30 balls) and Adam Shaw (10 off 11 balls) for giving their innings some substance. In reply, the homeside raced to their winning target for the loss of four wickets in just 19.1 overs, despite some excellent bowling from both Jai Sander (3 for 31) and Matty French (1 for 11).
Aycliffe’s 2nd team picked up four points from their defeat against Preston, taking their final points total to 222 from 24 games played and they finished in eighth place in the NYSD 4th division table.
Photo: The victorious Aycliffe Ladies Senior team with some of their supporters after their epic cup final victory against Great Ayton.