Sunderland get their season off to a losing start against Croons
In the Dukes ECB North East Premier League, Sunderland lost their opening match with a trip to Tynemouth, resulting in a 42-run victory for the home team.
Tynemouth bat ted first and scored 252 all out, Esam Rahman hitting 112 from 115 balls faced, including nine fours and five sixes. Kieran Watersontook3-30andfellowbowler Micky Allan 3-38.
Sunderland captain Greg Apple garth opened their batting with 47 from 37 balls, includingsix four sand two six es. He was backed up by teammates Ross Whitfield with 57, including four fours and one six, and George Drissell with 56, including six fours and one six, but unfortunately this was not enough, giving them a final total of 210 all out.
Promoted Newcastle City started their season in the top flight with an excellent three wickethome win over Chester Le-Street. Th eC estriansw on the toss and elected to bat first, setting a target of 125 all out. Li am Simpson was the best their batsmen had to offer with a score of 29. Jesse Tashkoff and Jacques Du Toit took 3-18 and 3-22 respectively.
In reply, City hit 126-7, with opener Kieran Trevaskis leading the batting with a score of 30, including one four and two sixes. Stanley McAlindon, Quent in Hughes and Sebastian Hughes-Pinan took two wickets each.
Burn mo or, league runners up from last season, began their campaign with a disappointing defeat away from home. Felling won the toss and put Burn mo or into bat and they could only reach a lowly 114 all out, with opener Graham Clark hitting 44, including two fours. Elliot Fox took 3-32, with Paul Leonard and Travis Norris taking two wickets each.
In reply, Felling started off well with 45 from Travis Norris, which included four fours. There were no other batsmen scores of note, but Felling eventually took the points withatotalof115-9,givingthem a narrow one-wicket victory. Ryan Pringle took 3-23, with Waqas Maqsood and Graeme Bridge taking a couple of wickets apiece.
Whitburn’s total of 214-9 was too much for visiting Eppleton, who reached just 80 all out. Jack Burnham (66) and Chris Greaves (58) helped to set up the unassailable target.
Henry Warren and And re wEb dale took three wickets each for Eppleton, with Matthew Muchall topping Whitburn’s bowling figures with 5-9.
Hetton Lyons welcomed Benwell Hill and the visitors set a target of 176-8, with Luke Doneathy (33), Phillip Nicholson (36) and Phillip Bell (51no) the best of the batsmen. Christopher Ralston took 3-39.
The Lyons roared back with a total of 177-5. Stuart Walker opened the batting with 31, assisted by Ben McKinney with 42 and Jarvis Clay with 55.
Reigning champions South North were beaten after electing to bat first. Christopher Hewison hit 97 from 101 balls, including five fours and five sixes, before being run out. Sean Tindale added 41, including two fours and two sixes. At the end of their 50 overs, South North had set a target of 230- 7. Matthew Oswell took 3-45 for the Burnopfield bowlers.
In reply, Burnopfield’s Brydon Carse scored a fantastic 127 not out from 131 balls, including nine fours and seven sixes. With the help of his teammates, they got the runs required to give them a four wicket victory, with a final total of 234-6. Jonathan Wightman and Oliver McGee took two wickets each for the visitors.
In Division One, relegated Washington started their campaign off with a home game against Sacriston, who also took the drop with them last season.
Sacriston won the toss and chose to bat first. Opener Nathan Hall set them up well with 44, including three fours, but he did not get the support needed and the team posted a meagre total of 144 all out. Mark Bell took 3-35 and Ash Thorpe 3-17. Washington got off to a slow start, until James Alan Thompson hit 52 not out. Ash Thorpe added 38, helping them to a six-wicket winning score of 146-4.
Philadelphia travelled to Willington and were first up to bat. Opening batsman Thomas Raine set them on the way to victory with 39, ably assisted by Shahid Khan with 43 and Luke Robinson 32 not out, taking them to a total of 211-7. James Hindmarsh took 5-31. In reply, Willington’s James Hindmarsh (31) was the only one with a noteworthy score, seeing them to a score of 141 all outand,withit,a70-rundefeat.
Promoted Seaham Park hosted Ashington and got off to a good start in the division with a narrow 12-run win. Seaham Park’s Tom Nicholson scored 41 in their 128 all out. Ian Sharkey took 3- 26. Ashington could only reach 116 all out in response, despite Younas Ahmadzai’s healthy contribution of 51. Anthony Watson took a matchwinning 6-34.
Lanchester welcomed Crook, the visitors batting first and posting a total of 167 all out. Pasindu Madushan took 4-27 and fellow bowler Callum Barnes 3-30. In reply, Lanchester batted their way to a fivewicket win with 168-5, Stuart McPhail top scoring with 66.
Castle Eden visited Gateshead Fell and got their season off to a good start with a 94- run victory.
Batting first, they had Jason Moses to thank for his contribution of 59 in their 169 all out.
Sam Roseby and Jamie Cairns took four wickets each.
Gateshead Fell struggled to 73 all out, Bilawal Iqbal taking a brilliant 6-29 and Keith Bailey 4-17.
Shotley Bridge entertained Blaydon and put the visitors in to bat first. Blaydon posted a total of 136 all out, including 63 from Paul Underwood and 34 from Geoff Stewart. Jack Rowley topped the bowling figureswith 3-14. In reply, Shot ley Bridge romped to a nine-wicket victory. Opening bats men Daniel Anderson got them off to a good start with 72, with Kieran Mi lb urn adding 51 not out to cement the win.