First XI Match Report v Marton CC 2XI
The First XI moved to within one victory of promotion to the Premier Division of the NYSD League at the weekend as they defeated Marton CC 2XI by 6 wickets at Kingsway.
There was rain around throughout the day on Saturday and a particularly heavy band forecast around teatime as Marton were asked to bat first on a very good-looking Kingsway pitch. The visitors start couldn’t have been much worse as the top order capitulated firstly to 15/3 and then 31/5 soon after, as the fantastic form of speedster Ben Roosenboom continued. The champion Victorian bowled fast and straight, snaring the first four Marton wickets in his early overs. With his mother & father in the crowd, having recently arrived from Melbourne to cheer him on, there was no stopping Roosenboom as he went on to claim 6/50 from his 10.4 overs, including a regulation caught behind to Scott Oldfield, who took the catch despite the ‘keeper ‘only being at 50%’ due to a bruised heel from a water slide bump on a recent holiday. (We thought the story was never gonna end!!!)
Luke Gettings (79) for the visitors was superb. His shot selection was as good as we’ve seen this season and his knock really was the difference between an early finish and a competitive game. Harry Holmes (10), Rory Cotterill (24) & Tom Hustwitt (12no) all played important support acts in partnerships that took the visitors to a much more respectable 156 all out from 41.4 overs.
The home sides chase began with one eye on the weather. There were a few spots of rain but thankfully a full game was had. Openers Chapman (19) & Rutherford (41) shared a partnership of 49 before Chapman clipped to square leg to be caught and was followed soon after by the free scoring Rutherford. Scott Oldfield (32) was again impressive despite his injury (did we mention he had a bruise?) But it was Matthew Cowling who made a dazzling 39no to bring the Kingsway men home as the target was reached in 29 overs.
Scorecard https://bishopauckland.play-cricket.com/website/results/5134645
Second XI Match Report v Maltby CC
Bishop Auckland 2nds travelled to Maltby a week after a humiliating 10 wicket defeat to Sedgefield 2XI.An equally depleted team was put together but Bishops performance was inspired like the proverbial Phoenix rising from the ashes. Stand in captain Davy Jacobs win the toss an invited the home side bat. Reading the wicket to perfection Jacobs opened the ball bowling with David Robinson and Kethanan Sarveswaren. Kesh usually a late order change bowler, on this occasion bowled ten straight overs from the start his accuracy on a a slow low bounce wicket strangled the Maltby batters Kesh ending with 10-2-24-2. Ably supported by David Robinson who also exploited the conditions. Following Kesh’s excellent spell on came youngster Charlie Pierson on loan from Marske another exemplary 10 overs of spin bamboozled the Maltby batters with the precocious Pierson finishing with 3 for 34. After Robinson’s miserly first seven overs into the attack came the experienced Paul Imerson another bowler who exploited the conditions to his advantage-finishing with 10-2-23-1.All the bowlers were well supported in the field making scoring exceedingly difficult. David Robinson then returned for his final 3 overs ending with the excellent figures of 10-4-25-3.The end result was Maltby 2nd XI making 124-9 off their allotted 40 overs. The chase was never going to be a cakewalk with the variable bounce and so it proved. Wickets fell with great regularity around opener David Robinson who stubbornly resisted. Two valuable contributions from middle order batters David Taylor(11) and skipper Jacobs(15) kept Bishops hopes alive but following their demise at 87-5 the situation looked bleak with an extraordinarily long tail. However, the limpet like Robinson then grasped the nettle hitting the bad ball to the boundary and manipulating the strike to protect the lower order. Youngster Jude Barker joined Robinson at 106-6 and maintained his composure and had the satisfaction of hitting the winning boundary. However the true hero of the day was David Robinson with an unbeaten 66 the only batter on the day to dominate the bowling showing a maturity far beyond his years. A special mention to loanee Charlie Pierson whose commitment and enthusiasm was exemplary. Maltby were brilliant hosts and presented traditional cricket teas for those wishing to partake. A masterful 5 wicket victory hopefully will springboard the 2nd XI to similar performances in the forthcoming bank holiday double header.
Scorecard https://bishopauckland.play-cricket.com/website/results/5170130
Third Team Match Report V Sedgefield CC 3XI
Bishop Auckland 3rds entertained highflying Sedgefield 3rds with a makeshift side but with commendable commitment from club members to ensure the fixture took place. Winning the toss Bishops invited Sedgefield to bat with usual opening bowling attack of Hinds and Robinson striving to put Bishops on the front foot, unfortunately dropped catches resulted in only one breakthrough. With limited depth to the bowling attack the decision was made to give valuable experience to a full range of bowlers. Giving their all the bowlers stuck to the task but were bludgeoned to the boundary with regulatory. Riley Crozier was the pick of the inexperienced attack and the only other wicket fell to the ever-enthusiastic Barry Robinson. Sedgefield declared their innings after 37 overs at 304-2. Bishops showed some early resistance with skipper Mike Sowerby and James Dowson seeing off the opening bowlers but a change of bowling saw Dowson caught in the covers. In came the steely David Robinson determined to preserve his wicket. When Sowerby feathered a catch to the wicket keeper wickets fell in rapid succession and the innings collapsed to 114 all out, with the resilient Robinson last man out for 56 after another half century in his outstanding season. Bishop 3rds now have one fixture remaining a trip to Rockliffe Park 3rds and the opportunity to complete a double over their rivals. Hopefully a more representative side can end the season on a high and lay the platform for more success next season.
Scorecard https://bishopauckland.play-cricket.com/website/results/5127061
