Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club’s 1st team, sponsored by Franks the Flooring Store, beat the weather and then dominated the match, but had to ultimately settle for a frustrating draw away at Hartlepool 2nd XI in the NYSD 2nd division.
Aycliffe won the toss and decided to bat first and proceeded to score a challenging 199 for 9 in their allotted 50 overs. Captain Adam Randall again led from the front, top scoring with his second consecutive half century, hitting 75 runs from 96 balls and his fine innings included nine boundaries and two sixes. Other notable contributions came from Luke Telford (30 runs off 43 balls), Michael Howe (23 runs off 23 balls) and an unbeaten 22 from 28 balls at the end of the innings from George Slatcher.
In reply Aycliffe opening bowler Michael Howe (sponsored by Bob and Yvonne Wood) was in brilliant form and had the homeside’s batsmen in all sorts of trouble, taking a seasonal best of 5 for 28 and with good support from Jack Slatcher (2 for 13), the pair had Hartlepool teetering on the brink at 31 for 7. However, the Hartlepool tail was able to safely see off the next 24 overs and made it to stumps on 129 for 9, depriving Aycliffe of what earlier had looked like a certain victory.
The Second team’s home game with Northallerton 2nd XI in the NYSD 4th division was a victim of the weather and was abandoned without a ball being bowled as the ground was waterlogged.
Aycliffe’s U13’s team got their season off to a terrific start with a comprehensive eight wicket victory at home to Stockton in the NYACC league. Electing to bowl first Aycliffe bowled and fielded superbly to restrict the visitors to just 64 for 4 from their allotted 20 overs. In reply Aycliffe coasted to their winning target after only 13.3 overs and for the loss of just two wickets thanks to an excellent unbeaten 33 off 30 balls by captain Will Dearden and he was supported well by fellow opener Ollie Paylor who scored 11 runs.
Photo: Aycliffe captain Adam Randall in action.