Success by the ton for Bomarsund
NORTHUMBERLAND LG DIVISION ONE
A CENTURY partnership helped Bomarsund to become champions as they fought back against Clara Vale to secure a five-wicket victory.
Vale were put into bat and made a solid start, openers Shahzad Alvi (39) and the league’s top scorer Naveed Iqbal (32) helping the visitors to 137-4 before rain interrupted proceedings and reduced the match to 45 overs.
Fifteen-year-old Adam Gardiner was the pick of the Bomar bowlers, finishing with 4-42 to end the summer with 35 wickets.
Matthew Crawford also claimed 3-30 as Vale were bowled out for 185 after 42 overs.
A disastrous start saw Bomar quickly fall to 11-2, then 31-3, in their run chase, Muhammad Ashraf almost unplayable in taking all three wickets.
The recovery was led by Adam McTaggart and captain Colin Thornton, the pair putting on 105 for the fourth wicket.
McTaggart reached 60, hitting 10 boundaries before being trapped lbw by the dangerous Ashraf.
Opener Thornton went on to finish unbeaten on 68, finding the boundary seven times to enable Bomarsund to reach 186-5 with four overs to spare.
Ashraf finished with 4-43 for Vale, who finish in fourth place.
There was a personal double for Vale players with Naveed Iqbal the top run scorer – finishing 60 runs ahead of Thornton – while Riaz Mohammed with 47 wickets was top wicket-taker.
Whitley Bay finished runners-up, finally sealing promotion after narrowly failing in recent years.
The hosts wasted little time in bowling Warenford out for only 72 after a delayed start, Andrew Lindsay claiming 5-25.
In reply, Bay lost Mark Harris (11) and then both Graeme Turnbull and Graham Ord for ducks to Tom Smith.
There were no more scares, however, as Simon Batting (22 not out) and John Douglas (28 not out) took Whitley Bay over the line as they reached 73-3 after 20 overs.
Whickham Seconds finished third after receiving maximum points when opponents Backworth Seconds conceded the match.
The clash between the bottom two – already-relegated Monkseaton and Kirkley – fell victim to the weather, as did Ulgham v Civil Service and Blagdon Park Seconds v Hebburn. ■■DON’T miss tomorrow night’s Grassroots Sport for the latest Sunday league football reports plus junior athletics.