Teeside University SHLS North Yorkshire and South Durham ECB Premier League Week 5 Round-Up

Four run outs certainly didn’t help their cause but Marske’s total of 234-8 was decent enough with Hassan Raza’s half century the highlight, however it proved nowhere near enough as Stockton raced to a seven-wicket victory. The Hewison brothers took the main honours, with Joe throwing down the gauntlet with a 63-ball 70 before Tom (98no in 83 balls) joined Lewis Beaumont (52no in 29 balls) in an unbroken 10-over century stand.

Stockton had started the day level on the bottom of the table with Saltburn but the Seagulls were left propping up the rest after they went down to a six-wicket defeat at the hands of leaders Barnard Castle.

Barney’s latest success in a low scoring game centred around two players – skipper Karl Carver (3-23 and 42) and Suminda Lakshan (5-36 and 41no) as they knocked off their host’s modest total of 111. The signing of the Sri Lankan has proved a masterstroke for the champions with the leg-spinner having already taken 28 wickets this season.

The 20 points kept Barney on top but Richmondshire were able to stay in touch when the weather ‘gift-wrapped’ them a victory over visitors Stokesley in a game that looked almost certain to end as a draw before the rain swept in.

The Dalesmen posted a challenging 247-4 which owed much to an opening stand of 131 between Gary Pratt (63) and Mike Layfield who notched up the 23rd century of his career with an immaculate 107. Stokesley looked on the road to defeat at 50-4 but then Harry Harding (43) helped Jonny Weighell turn the tables in a stand of 133 that raised visiting hopes.

Light rain slowly turned to steady rain when the umpires took the players from the field after the first ball of the 43rd over with Stokesley on 187-6 and 16 runs short of the DLS target score. This was bittersweet for Weighell who was left stranded with 99 to his name.

The win lifted the Dalesmen to within 7 points of the leaders whilst the chasing pack is now headed up by Darlington RA and Bishop Auckland, this pair some 21 points adrift of Richmondshire.

RA emerged victorious from their Brinkburn Road derby against Darlington who owed much to Scott Steel’s unbeaten 74 for their eventual total of 149. Jawad Ali picked up another five-wicket haul for the Railwaymen, and with Colin Ackerman claiming three wickets and then heading up the run chase with a half century RA claimed the local bragging rights with a four-wicket win.

Meanwhile Bishop Auckland enjoyed a hard-earned 17-run victory over Marton at Kingsway, a real team effort as they successfully defended a total of 193 despite conceding 42 extras, and Hartlepool squeezed past Middlesbrough at Acklam Park after looking virtually down and out on 87-7 in pursuit of the home team’s 134. Former Boro player Mathew Maloy claimed player of the match honours with 4-23 and a crucial unbeaten 18 alongside Finlay Barlow (33no) in the match defining partnership.

Game of the day in Division One was arguably at Billingham where the home team conceded a four from the final ball of the day, a tie the result with both teams having scored 222 runs. And there are new leaders in the second tier as Sedgefield claimed pole position after displacing Guisborough who they defeated by 29 runs in a low scoring encounter at Station Road.

After bowling out their hosts for just 124 the Priorymen looked set for a battling victory on 88-6 but then home skipper Ben Swindale brought himself on to bowl and in just 15 balls took 4-5 to take Sedgefield to the summit.