Eppleton edge T20 Blast epic
EPPLETON Under-19s edged home by 25 runs against Sunderland at Church Road in the NEPL T20 Vitality Blast, writes Sam Blacklock.
Eppleton won the toss and having elected to bat, they then got off to a flyer – having 45 on the board in just the third over.
Joe Blacklock led the way for the Hetton side with an unbeaten 50 backed 30 from Marcus Brown.
Lewis Reay (29*) and Lewis Wardle (21*) then came into the middle at six and six to see Eppleton to 177-3 from 20 overs.
Jamie Hair bagged 2-22 for Sunderland while Joseph Stuart struck once. In reply Sam Brigham fell cheaply for 11 followed by Joseph Stuart being stumped on 48.
Jack Johnson scored 51 but Sunderland fell just short in reply. Edward Brown (2-20) and Jake Pratt (1-20) both struck for Eppleton.
Boldon pipped Chester-le-Street by two wickets in the Durham Cricket Board Junior League.
Chester-le-Street won the toss and elected to bat, scoring an impressive 160-3 from 20 overs as Scott Robson top-scored with 50 from 55 balls supported by 38 from Robbie Dawson.
Kyle-David Groomsbridge, Ethan Elsworth and Tom Siddle all picked up one wicket apiece for Boldon.
Nathan Hewitt proved to be key in reply as he scored with a 35-ball 66 – including seven fours and four sixes – helped by 33 from Oliver Sampson Barnes and 29 from Jacob McCord as the Sunderland Road side were victorious with one ball to spare.
South Shields overcame Sacriston by 21 runs. South Shields batted first posting a reasonable total of 136-8 from 20 overs, with Adam May top scoring with 29 from 32 balls.
Shea Clements added 19 and Sameer Awan 18 in Shields’ total. Ellis Horner was key for Sacriston with 4-28 from four overs.
Sacriston looked like chasing down South Shields total but once opener Matthew Brown departed Sacriston’s chances slipped as he was ran out for 51.
Tommy Bell also departed for 20, as South Shields edged home.
A 48-ball 60 from Owen Vaughan led Ryhope to a 42-run victory over Marsden. Vaughan was supported by 37 from Jake Siddle as Ryhope posted 127-4 from 20 overs.
Marsden struggled to just 85/6 from 20 overs. Owen Amess top scored with 30 as Graham Pickering (2-21) and Ricki Mendonca (1-4) struck. Both Burnmoor and Peterlee conceded their fixtures.