FANTASTIC FORSTER’S SIX OF THE BEST WINS THE DAY
SIX-WICKET SUPER SHOW FROM BOWLER MARK STEERS SILKSWORTH TO WELCOME FIRST VICTORY AT MURTON
Silksworth secured their first win of the season in Division Two – at the fifth attempt – away to Murton as Mark Forster stole the show.
The Sunderland side looked in trouble when they were dismissed for 136 after 39 overs.
Opener Andy Barrass topscored with a good knock of 35, added to by Paul Bradford (19), Phil Middlemiss (27) and Chris Ledger (17 not out).
But the bowlers held sway, with Stuart Harrison (3-24), Sam Sanderson (3-41) and Dean Brewster (3-39) all impressing. Keith Chapman also struck.
Murton lost two quick wickets in their reply and never truly recovered, despite a good third-wicket partnership between Sanderson (29) and Chris Milne (25). Harrison (13) was the only other batsman to reach double figures as Murton were dismissed for 97 in the 26th over to go down by 39 runs.
First-change bowler Forster was outstanding with the ball, plundering 6-34 in 8.5 overs, backed by Michael Waterson (3-25) and Robbie Jones’ vital dismissal of topscorer Sanderson.
Hylton remain in third place, after they won at Ryhope by six wickets after skittling out the home side for just 57. Daniel Douglas top-scored with 32 for the home side.
Adam Bewick (3-8) was the pick of the Hylton bowlers, before John Stokoe stroked an unbeaten 27 to guide the visitors home on 59-4.
Crook Town remain top, despite their game falling foul of the weather at secondplaced Ushaw Moor,.
Crook, put into bat, reached 132-2 after 33 overs when the rains came, with the match eventually abandoned. Steven Chapman was unbeaten on 59, with seven fours, well-supported by fellow opener Alan O’Prey (37, with four boundaries), while Stuart Newton added 18. Mike Thorpe took 2-39 in 11 overs.
Fifth-placed Evenwood made 114-3 at home to sixthplaced Peterlee, before the weather intervened, with Sajid Mahmood hitting an excellent 57 not out and Faisal Hussain adding 38.
Boldon CA, who remain bottom, drew their match after Langley Park posted 186-9, with Jonna Lane smashing 81 and Michael Gladstone making 36. Thomas Jubb took 4-27 and there were two wickets each for Stuart Smith and Shaun Gleeson.
When Boldon CA batted, they responded with a steady 134-5, with David Johnston scoring 35 and Andrew O’Connell finishing 29 not out.
Durham City eased home by nine wickets away to Littletown in an entertaining First Division duel, inspired by batsman William Dobson
City put Littletown into batandmusthavehadinstant regrets as Archit Goenka plundered 15 fours and two sixes in a brilliant 82-ball 87, supported by 28 from fellow opener Matt Dench, with five boundaries.
Philip Bennett (11), Berwick Hall (19no) and Josh Toal (13no) steered the home side to a declaration on 175-4, after 39 overs.
Drew Watson, Ian Conn, Andrew Hutchinson and Nick Howe all took wickets for City.
Durham raced to victory off the first ball of the 27th over. Opener Dobson was in irresistible form, firing 25 fours and two sixes in a blistering 77-ball 126 not out, alongside 38 from Jake McCann, with seven fours, before Goenka bagged the only wicket to fall.
Dawdon and Tudhoe served up a high-scoring clash at Green Drive.
The visitors amassed 268-2 declared, led by Alex McGrath’s superb century (133no), while Abhiram Joshi struck 81.
Dawdon gave it their best shot and were just 13 runs short of victory when they were dismissed for 256.
South African professional Clayton Malgas (70) and Craig Price (44) led the run chase, but it was not enough as Ian Grainger (4-60) and Roshan Jayatissa (3-44) did the damage with the ball to win the game.
Whiteleas and Horden played out a draw.
Leas made 175-9, with Abdul Ameer scoring 63 and Ryan Dowens 33, with Scott Birks returning 3-53, while Carl Watson took 2-20 and Lal Kumar 2-21. Horden responded with 158-6, thanks largely to Lee Jackson (34) and Adam Dixon (58), with Ryan Dowens returning 4-33.
Seaham Park remain top of the table after their game was abandoned, with Esh Winning having made 165-6 when the rain came.
Chris Simpson hit 33 and Daniel Wilkinson 29, while Dale Shaw and Andrew McKenzie each took two wickets for Park.
Philadelphia’s stuttering start to the season continued, with a six-wicket loss at home to in-form Easington.
Philadelphia scored just 108, with Adam McGuire (16) and Gary Braithwaite (15) the biggest contributors.
John Leslie was Easington’s main man with the ball, taking 4-25 in his spell, while there were two wickets apiece for Jordan Wilson, Gary Ward and Dane Wilson.
Jiniv Joshi, with 28, featuring four boundaries, helped steer Easington home to a comfortable win when the visitors batted.
Dave Tarn played his part in seeing his side home, scoring 22. McBeth took two wickets for Phili.
Castle Eden made 210-4 declared in their home match with Bill Quay.
Opener Robert McGlasham fired an unbeaten 90 and Alan Unsworth contributed 30 runs, with Philip Wimpenny smashing 42.
In reply, Bill Quay hung on for the draw on 146-7, with Chris Little 48 and Josh Eaton both making 48, with Richard Ede taking 3-37.