Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club’s 1st team, sponsored by Franks the Flooring Store were well beaten by 86 runs at home to table toppers Darlington RA in the NYSD 2nd division. The visitors were asked to bat first and scored an impressive 208 all out after 46.1 overs, despite some superb seam bowling from Subhan Christudas, who finished with 6 for 29, which is the best bowling by an Aycliffe player this season. In reply, the hosts batted poorly and were dismissed for 122 after 36.3 overs despite an excellent 50 off 44 balls from Michael Howe (sponsored by Keziah Benson Photography) and good contributions from both Ryan Dawson (18 runs) and Sam Telford (17 runs).
The second team were also well beaten away at local rivals Sedgefield 2nd XI in the NYSD 3rd division, going down by eight wickets. Electing to bat first, acting captain Jack Slatcher (sponsored by Mr & Mrs Greaves) got the innings off to a great start with an excellent 60. Fellow opener Graham Telford and Stephen Sweeney both also batted well scoring 38 runs each, but a collapse saw Aycliffe fall from 152 for 2 to 187 all out after 46.3 overs. In reply, the homeside raced to victory after just 35.3 overs for the loss off just two wickets.
In midweek, the club’s 15/15 team (sponsored by Vanila Design & Print) guaranteed their place in the quarter finals of the NYSD 15/15 competition with a thumping 138 run home win against Shildon 2nd XI. Opting to bat first, Aycliffe racked up a formidable 196 for 1 after their allotted 15 overs thanks to brilliant innings from Sam Telford (88 off 35 balls, including seven boundaries and seven big sixes), Ryan Dawson (68 off 41 balls with nine boundaries) and Michael Howe (16 off 14 balls with two boundaries). In reply Shildon were skittled for just 58 off 12.2 overs with Jack Slatcher the pick of the bowlers taking 3 for 12 and a couple of wickets each for the Howe brothers, Michael and Patrick.
The club’s u19’s team were beaten by 45 runs away at a very strong Seaton Carew side in the Nat West Cup. The homeside were asked to bat first and were bowled out for 98 from 19.5 overs thanks to good bowling from Aycliffe’s Tom Wickins (3-20), Ryan Dawson (2-5) and George Slatcher (2-35). In reply Aycliffe batted poorly and were skittled for just 53 after 14.2 overs with only Ben Nicholson reaching double figures with his innings of 13.
The u19’s put in an improved performance in the Nat West cup at home to Blackhall, but still lost by 28 runs. The visitors chose to bat first and scored 139 for 7 in their 20 overs with Aycliffe bowlers Sam Dobinson and Lucas Pilling both taking a couple of wickets each. In reply, opener Dan Bowmer batted really well top scoring with 40 off 52 balls and he received some support from Tom Wickins who chipped in with 14 off 8 balls, but the team fell short of their target and were bowled out for a fighting 111 off 19.2 overs.
The u11’s team won their 6th game of the season with a thumping victory by 91 runs away at Blackhall. Charlie Cayless batted superbly for Aycliffe to top score with 22 and there was also good innings from both Josh Imerson and David Robinson, who both scored 13 runs. Aycliffe also bowled and fielded brilliantly to help give the team one of the biggest wins in their history.