Khan on charge through the Bulls
DUKES N/EAST PREMIER LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
TYNEMOUTH finished the season strongly by inflicting only the second league defeat of the summer on champions South North at Roseworth Terrace.
On a used pitch and with rain around, skipper Ben Debnam won the toss and invited the hosts to bat.
Former Australia batsman Marcus North started strongly, but Andrew Smith, who bowled well all day without much reward, managed to slow the scoring – taking the wicket of the dangerous Birtwisle in the process.
The introduction of Tahir Khan into the attack paid immediate dividends as he removed North for 42 and then started to work his way through a surprisingly brittle Bulls batting line-up.
This was Khan’s finest performance of the season as he bowled an attacking line with great control, exploiting the turn and bounce available on his way to outstanding figures of 6-27.
John Graham provided resistance with 51 before Martin Pollard removed him in his first over, two excellent catches from Henry Malton at short leg helping Pollard to wrap up the innings with 3-20.
Despite Doig’s 21, South North’s total of 156 all out felt under par.
In reply, openers Debnam and Dinning faced excellent new-ball bowling from Stephen Humble, but gradually the dogged Debnam wore down the hosts on his way to carrying his bat for a match-winning 70 not out with seven fours.
Durham’s Stuart Poynter added a breezy 18 before Debnam and Matthew Brown formed a 69-run partnership which broke the back of the run chase.
Brown fell for 36, passing 500 league runs in the process but, despite the further losses of Armstrong and Smith, Debnam was there at the end with professional Khan. Humble claimed 3-37 off his 10 overs as Tynemouth secured a five-wicket success to finish eighth in the table.
South Shields lost at Chester-leStreet but were already relegated – and Sacriston will duly take their place next season.
They won the Division One title by a healthy 19-point margin over Burnopfield, who finished second as runners-up and just missed out on promotion.
Newcastle ended up runners-up for the second season running after a three-wicket win at home to Felling, who survived for another season in the top flight.
Benwell Hill finished fourth and nearly claimed a win over the Durham Cricket Academy, but the Riversiders clung on for the draw to take fifth spot.
Whitburn claimed a high-scoring draw at Eppleton.