Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club’s 1st team team, sponsored by Franks The Flooring Store, were thwarted by the weather after putting themselves in with a great chance of victory against the NYSD division 2 leaders. After being asked to bat first, Aycliffe blasted their way to an impressive 225 for 8 with excellent innings from Michael Howe (45 runs), Ross Dixon (41 not out), Sam Telford (41 runs) and Chris Palmer (36 runs) when the rain forced the game to be abandoned after 42.4 overs.
The 2nd team were desperately unlucky not to win away at Billingham Synthonia 2nd XI in their NYSD division 3 clash. Aycliffe elected to bat first and totalled a useful 184 for 9 from their allotted 50 overs thanks to Joe Haines, who top scored with 44, Darryn Bancroft (31 runs) and a useful score of 32 from captain Adam Gittins. In reply, despite some good bowling from medium pacers Jack Slatcher (3 for 49) and Neil Bancroft (2 for 35), the home team batted out the overs to finish their innings on 142 for 9 after 39 overs with Aycliffe unable to take the last wicket, which would have given them a deserved victory.
The under 15’s finished their league programme with a home defeat to Bishop Auckland by 67 runs. The visitors smashed an impregnable 167 for 3 in their allotted 20 overs, with Ryan Patrick the pick of the Aycliffe bowlers taking 2 wickets for 18 runs. In reply opener Dan Bowmer got his side off to a flier with a typically aggressive 20 runs. 13 year olds Jack Lowery (42 not out) and Adam lamb (26 not out) both batted well for Aycliffe, but the winning target was just too much for the youngsters as the innings closed on a respectable 100 for 1 from their 20 overs.
The under 11’s lost away at Wolviston but the Aycliffe captain Lucas Pilling deserves praise for an excellent score of 18 not out during his team’s innings.