Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club’s first team sponsored by Lift Right Fork Lift Training won their fourth game of the season by 108 runs away at Billingham Synthonia in the 3rd division of the NYSD league.
Batting first, Aycliffe hit their highest score of the season when with 197 all out after 45.4 overs. A special mention for 18 year old opener Sam Telford who batted with maturity when he carried his bat for a superb career best score of 72 not out. Captain Chris Palmer also deserved praise for his second half century of the season when he scored a typically aggressive 58.
Aycliffe bowler Sean Morgan took a season’s best 5 for 31 dismissing the first five homeside batsmen with a terriffic spell of hostile fast bowling. Spin twins Sam and Luke Telford mopped up the tail with a couple of wickets each as Aycliffe ran out easy winners with 24 overs remaining.
Aycliffe’s second team capped a great weekend for the club winning their first game in the NYSD with a fantastic 63 run victory at home to Maltby 3rd team in the 2nd division. After being asked to bat first, Aycliffe’s opener Kyle Robinson smashed an excellent 53, including 10 fours and was given good support from Nathan Blakeburn who scored 21. Aycliffe’s middle ordered struggled to maintain the momentum, but the team were thankful for a brilliant 2nd team club record 10th wicket partnership of 55 from captain John Gledhill (33 runs) and Tom Wickins (22 not out), which helped push their innings to 189 all out after 44.2 overs.
Aycliffe fast bowler Dan Weldon was in terrific form to blast out the top three visiting batsmen and finish the game with career best bowling figures of 5 for 25. Tom Wickins also capped a fine individual performance when he chipped in with 3 wickets for 31 runs as the hosts dismissed Maltby for 126 after 31.2 overs.
Newton Aycliffe’s under 18’s lost by 9 wickets at home to Bishop Auckland in the league cup. Aycliffe had to call upon four of the U13’s squad due to player unavailablity and the inexperience showed as they were bowled out for just 42 with only 12 year old debutant Adam Lamb and captain Dan Weldon reaching double figures. Another 12 year old debutant, Ryan Patrick had the honour of taking the only Bishop Auckland wicket.
The under 13’s were well beaten at home to Stockton despite creditable performances from both James Knowlson, who took 2 wickets and the in form Adam Lamb who blasted an excellent 23 runs.
