A five-star show by Asher in Blyth’s win
LEADERS Blyth took a huge leap towards the title after beating nearest challengers Backworth by 12 runs.
The match was reduced to 40 overs, but after 28 of those Blyth were back in the pavilion with only 82 runs on the board.
Mark Minto was the pick of the bowlers with 5-38, with two apiece for Chris Liddle and James Morgan.
Backworth had moved on to 36-1 before Will Asher trapped Ben Sutton lbw for 20, leading to a Backworth capitulation.
Asher, along with captain Mark Lawrence, then ripped through the visitors’ innings, bowling them out for only 70 in reply.
Asher finished with figures of 5-22 and Lawrence 4-13 to gain an extra 20 points on Backworth – increasing their lead at the top to 42 points.
Blue Flames kept alive their own title hopes with a 31-run success at Blagdon Park.
Mohsin Iqbal hit five boundaries on his way to 59 for the third-placed side. David Gibson took 4-30, helping to bowl out the visitors for 171 a ball shy of their allotted 40 overs.
In reply, Matthew Senior (30), Mark Foster (21) and Angus Johnson (20) all made a start – but Park were left frustratingly short on 140-8. Mirza Balal Baig claimed 3-43.
The Benton side now trail Backworth by 28 points but are 70 points adrift of Blyth.
Warkworth won the basement battle against Cramlington by 66 runs – but stay in the relegation zone.
Cramlington captain Bryan Walker took 3-27 and Joseph Ingram claimed 3-22 as the hosts were bowled out for 127 after 28 overs – Rory Wilson top-scoring with 31.
Cramlington opener Dan Craddock hit four fours and a six in his 32.
However, after his dismissal, Cramlington were left on just 54-7 before Billy Pringle cleaned up the tail.
The visitors were bowled out for only 61 in reply and now occupy the bottom spot.
Adam Hall (3-15) and Martin Clark (3-25) did the early damage, with two victims apiece for Pringle and Ian Clough.
Corbridge continue to climb up the table after securing a seven-wicket victory at home against Stobswood.
In a match reduced to 40 overs, Corbridge needed only 22 to bowl out their visitors, who not surprisingly put Stobswood into bat.
Russell Perry and Andrew Dover tore through the innings as Stobswood were quickly reduced to 25-9.
A last-wicket partnership, the highest of the innings, moved them on to 38, leaving Dover with figures of 5-24 while Perry took 3-10.
Marcus Sewell and Perry took Corbridge on to 39-3 after 12 overs and it is five wins in six for them now as they move up to sixth.
Berwick’s home match against Ashington Rugby and Whickham’s clash with GEMs both fell victim to the weather.