Newton Aycliffe Cricket Club’s 1st team team sponsored by Franks the Flooring Store got the new season off to a great start with an excellent six wicket victory at home to newly promoted Whitby 2nd XI in the NYSD 2nd division.
After winning the toss and asking the visitors to bowl first, Aycliffe captain Chris Palmer was delighted to see his side bowl out Whitby for just 146 after 37.1 overs. Aycliffe’s fast bowlers did most of the damage with Matty Atkinson taking 5 for 40 from 10.1 overs and Sean Morgan 3 for 24 from his 9 overs.
In reply Aycliffe opener Luke Telford look comfortable scoring a fluent 20, but a mini collapse had the home side temporarily on the back foot at 53 for 4. However debutant John Cavanagh then stepped up and smashed the bowling to all parts of the ground, hitting his half century off just 29 balls. Sean Morgan supported well with 20 not out as the pair put on an unbroken 5th wicket partnership of 96 as the home side romped to victory after just 28.1 overs.
Man of the match Cavanagh eventually finished unbeaten on 77 from 47 balls and his whirlwind innings contained 14 boundaries and and one six.
A young 2nd team traveled to division three title favourites Norton 2nd XI and were defeated by 84 runs. Electing to bat first the homesides powerful batting line up hit an imposing 213 for 7 declared from 47 overs with Aycliffe’s Patrick Howe the pick of the bowlers taking 3 for 25 and Adam Gittins and Danny Weldon shared the the other four wickets to fall. In reply, despite good innings from captain Gittins (27 runs), Trevor Shingler (24 runs) and Jack Slatcher (17 runs), Aycliffe were dismissed for 129 after 35.2 overs.
The club’s under 11’s team also played their first game of the season and were beaten at home by Sedgefield. However there was some promising performances from both Kyle Cuthbertson and Robert Hillman, who both took a wicket for Aycliffe.