FIVE-STAR WATSON’S TOO SMART FOR PARK
DAWDON GRAB SEAHAM DERBY BRAGGING RIGHTS AS BOWLER ANTHONY DESTROYS HOSTS
Dawdon secured derby-day delight as they hammered close neighbours Seaham Park by seven wickets to lay claim to the early-season bragging rights.
As derbies go, this was decidedly one-horsed with all bets off at the interval when the Park were licking their wounds after being bundled out unceremoniously by their visitors for just 67.
Michael Walker’s 26 runs was about as good as it got for the home team who were on the back foot from the off as Michael Ewart had two back in the shed without troubling the scorer.
The brief resistance from Walker, aided by Chris Allan (16), held out some hope of recovery, but then the roof caved in as Anthony Watson (5-7) inflicted more misery by increasing the duck count to six.
Some early success with the ball was but a further false dawn for the home team as Dawdon disappeared over the horizon, Bavesh Patel (32 not out) seeing his new team-mates home without too much fuss.
Easington built on their opening-day success with another convincing victory, this one by a margin of 142 runs at Hylton, who look as though they are destined for another season of relegation struggles.
An early half-century from Ryan Higgins provided the foundation for Easington’s innings, and then skipper Dane Wilson added a late embellishment with an unbeaten 68, and even four cheap wickets for Marlon Black couldn’t prevent the visitors setting a decent marker of 199-8.
In the event, that proved way too many as Jordan Wilson ran riot, bagging seven wickets for 26 runs as Hylton slumped to 57 all out.
Horden, sidelined by the weather on the opening day, got their season off to the best of starts as they blew awayBillQuay.
The visitors had found run-scoring relatively easy in their first game, but left arm spinner Adam Dixon tied them in knots in this one, his five-over spell seeing him claim six wickets for just eight runs.
With Horden’s new overseas signing, Lal Kumar, taking 3-14 on debut, Quay were unlocked for just 60. The run chase was then over and done with in a flash, Wayne Birks (44 not out) cracking four fours and two sixes in a whirlwind knock that rushed the home team to victory in 7.3 overs.
Run-scoring is not a problem for Philadelphia. After topping the charts on opening day, they showed their prowess with the willow once more as they made short work of knocking off a target of 171 at Castle Eden.
Phil Wimpenny was in great touch for the home team, cracking nine fours and two sixes on his way to a 99-ball 84, but Phili’s new overseas star, Armajeet Singh, was able to keep a lid on proceedings, his 12 overs costing him just 24 runs and producing four wickets.
Skipper Shaun Smith then continued his great start to the summer – he scored 60 against Bill Quay, and scored exactly the same on Saturday. He obviously loves the number as they came from exactly 60 balls! Singh (46 not out) and Paul Hollingshead (44 not out) finished the job in style, with victory achieved inside 32 overs.
Durham City came a bit of a cropper at Esh Winning, the reigning champions recovering their form with a much strengthened team to record a 128-run victory.
It was hard to find any solace for City in a one-sided encounter despite Jonny Harding, Ian Conn and Paul Moralee each claiming three wickets as Esh were held to 188-9. Durham were then destroyed for 60.
Burnopfield made it big win number two, thrashing Crook Town by 162 runs as Gareth Breese (118 from 105 balls) and Neil Killeen (6-15 from 12 overs) shone.
In Division Two, Ryhope were on the wrong end of a pummeling at Ushaw Moor, beaten by 108 runs.
Connor Pearson (57) and Adrian Hedley (36) topscored in Ryhope’s 155 reply, after John Arrington bagged 4-90 in the hosts’ 263-9 declared.
Murton enjoyed an easy day at home against Boldon CA, bowling them out for 83, thanks to four wickets apiece from Phumzile Yiba and Sam Sanderson, and then knocking the runs off without loss, Ben Wicling ending on 51 and Lewis Aiken 30.
Houghton almost managed to follow up their great start with another win, but in the end Whiteleas scraped past their moderate offering of 85 with just two wickets to spare.
Abdul Ameer (5-23) put Leas on top, but then Chris Leith (3-21) and Niki Lawson (3-20) threatened a major upset as the visitors slumped to 60-8, only for Rob Scorer (21no) and Lewis Surtees (13no) to scramble victory in 41 long overs.
Peterlee notched up a 60-run win at Langley Park, new signing Lewis Broom impressing on debut with an amazing 49-ball century. Broom cleaned up with 10 fours and six sixes, his unbeaten 106 powering Peterlee to a declaration after just 32 overs on 241-8.
Park were then left stranded on 181 as Aussie Aaron Shellie (4-17) and David Craig (5-30) did their bit.
Littletown were well beaten by Marsden, losing by six wickets after setting a modest target of 108, with Dan Pearson making 73, and Silksworth, bowled out for 154, thanks to Jonny Hayes (28), Michael Waterson (35) and Robbie Jones (22), lost their home game against Evenwood by eight wickets.