Ratcatchers triumph but leave it late
N/EAST MIDWEEK LG
RATCATCHERS had just two balls to spare when they reached 128-3 to overhaul the 127-4 set by Division One champs Kirkwood.
Alex Tait scored 39 and Will O’Brien was 24 not out.
For Kirkwood, Jaswinder Singh recorded 33 and Shakoor 34 with O’Brien taking 1-29 off his four off eight-ball overs.
Blue Flames kept up their recent good form with a victory over Boxbreakers.
They needed only 9.3 overs to clinch the win, Hasan Raza 38 not out and Mohsin 21 not out in their 107-2.
Sadiq claimed 4-35 off his four overs as Flames bettered Boxbreakers’ 105-5 based on 74 from Javed Mirza.
In Division Two, NE Tamils inflicted a first defeat on West End when they posted an unassailable 159- 7 thanks to 67 from Nish and 35 by Loges despite halid Azam taking 3-20.
For the WestEnders, who made 124-7, Amar Shoukat amassed 48 as Nish and Gobi each claimed three wickets.
Playing through the rain at Heaton, Matrics Barbarians had Whitley Bay in trouble on 54-8.
However, a ninth-wicket stand of 64 between Niall Piper (65) and Don Catley (12 not out) made the target more respectable at 119-9 - M Mapleton taking 4-14 off three overs.
Matrics prevailed with seven wickets and two and a half overs to spare - thanks to an explosive start by Naveed Iqbal who hit 71 off only 28 balls, including 10 fours and three sixes.
Catley recorded figures of 2-25, including the prize wicket of Iqbal, and Chris Dunn 1-15.
North Star enjoyed a comfortable win over Sage, Mirza Balal Baig taking four wickets in three overs.
Genetics rose to second place with victory over Mitford, Andy Horner 43 not out.
Cramlington are clear leaders in Division Three as they bettered the 97-3 set by Merz and McLellan with five wickets and just three balls to spare.
M Hall struck 43 for Crammy and for Merz Ben O’Brien and Dave Covell each got out in the low 20s.
Hero for High Stables was again Dan Keegan with 58 not out as they scored a significant win over Bates Cottages, Andy Weightman taking 3-14 to keep Bates down to 95-6.