Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club’s 1st team team sponsored by Lift Right Fork Lift Training, were heavily defeated away at promotion rivals Saltburn by 95 runs, bringing an end to their nine match winning streak.
The home team were asked to bat first and Aycliffe were delighted to restrict them to just 159 for 8 from their alloted 50 overs. Sam Telford bowled superbly for Aycliffe, finishing his 11 over spell with an impressive career best 5 for 33 and he was given good support from his cousin Luke Telford, who finished with 3 for 47.
Aycliffe batted very poorly and were dismissed for just 64 after 27.1 overs, with only Ross Dixon (13 runs), Dan Craggs (12 runs) and Adam Gittins (11 runs) managing to reach double figures. This defeat still leaves Aycliffe at the top of the NYSD 3rd divison, 14 points clear of second placed Saltburn, with just six games remaining.
A weakened second team travelled to Wolviston and battled really hard to earn a draw in the NYSD Sunday 2nd division. The home team were asked to bat first and scored a hefty 197 for 9 in their alloted 45 overs with Aycliffe’s Tom Wickins the pick of the bowlers taking 3 for 38 from his 10 overs.
Acting captain Chris Palmer smashed the bowling to all sides of the ground as he scored 79 in a batting master class, which included 12 boundaries and 2 sixes. Ben Nicholson batted well scoring a patient 13 in partnership with Palmer, but once these two were dismissed, the Aycliffe innings looked in trouble and a defeat looked a likely outcome.
However, a long defiant innings of 26 from Danny Weldon and good support from Dan O’Connor (13 runs), James Layfield-Carroll (4 not out) and Andy Burnham (2 not out), saw Aycliffe steal a creditable draw from their frustrated opponents.