This is the North East | Sport | Cricket

HETTON Lyons took a step nearer to their first title when they raised their game against South Shields to successfully chase a target of 222. Whitburn retained what is now surely a faint interest when they won at Felling.

Shields captain Michael Fishwick was the main contributor as Shields attempted to make life for the leaders as difficult as possible.

Fishwick (12 fours) found willing support from Michael Dunn when the pair added 61 for the fifth wicket.

The Lyons were quickly into their stride in a weakened Shields attack when Shaun Birbeck and Marc Hopkinson put on 103 before the former's dismissal. Hopkinson (14 boundaries) left at 142 for a well-worked 80 but then Hetton Lyons had a healthy run rate to maintain. They were assisted when 18 runs came off a Lindsay Cullen over and in the end had an over to spare.

Whitburn's expected victory at Felling materialised when Neil Johnson picked up a second fivewicket haul inside a week. Mark Vinton (38) offered some middleorder resistance but he received insufficient support and his side was dismissed for just 134.

After losing three wickets for 40, Neil Ayre (78) ensured a Whitburn win by five wickets.

Boldon had won just one game all summer until last weekend.

After two victories over the Bank Holiday, they made it three in a row with a crushing win against Durham City.

Geoff Houmark dominated the Boldon batting, hitting 18 boundaries in his 112. With useful support from Richard Potter (45) Boldon were able to declare after 45.4 overs having posted 218.

Durham looked capable of holding up their opponents when Matt Houghton and Paul Price put together 41 in an opening stand.

However, a change of bowling brought about City's downfall.

The pair were parted and Philip Shakespeare (4-20) and Orlanzo Jackson (4-12) saw that Durham were dismissed in 32 overs. Only the openers registered double figures.

There was a century for Marsden captain Chris Mann in his side's 112 success at Horden. The main substance to the Marsden total arrived when Andrew Raine (33) joined Mann (16 fours and three sixes). The pair added 106 for the sixth wicket and, despite five for 65 from Carl Watson, Marsden ended on 209.

Horden's response was non-existent. Starting the final hour they were 86 for two and then dramatically lost eight wickets for 11 runs.

Nadeem Khan (55) was one of just two players to reach double figures and the late introduction of Mark Scott proved an astute move.

He took four for one run in a threeover spell that saw Horden hurried out for 97.

Burnmoor's batting looked to have let them down against Eppleton.

It plummeted to 91 for seven from 32 overs but then came a rescue act. Gary Hulme (3-40) and Matthew Jane (3-47) gave Eppleton hopes of an early tea but Ian Conn (35) and Alex Ludlow had other ideas. They added a priceless 49 together and then late-order contributions meant the Moors were able to reach 168.

Eppleton suffered a similar batting demise. Sean Ezzard departed at 23 and David Lowther four balls later. Jimmy Daley was quickly out and at 27 for three Eppleton's hopes took a further dip when they found themselves 43 for six.

Ludlow (4-39) and Conn (3-29) were again the instigators but Eppleton held out to force a draw.

South Hetton lost little time against Seaham Harbour. John Leslie (6-32) was quickly among the wickets and Ashok Patel (4-9) supported with some accurate slow bowling.

Chasing just 52, Patel's unbeaten 34 saw South Hetton reach their target in just 14.3 overs.

• Back

Email page

Start Here

Other sites

Map

Help

Feedback

Home