Last updated 13:35, Thursday, 17 July 2008

THE West Tyne League over 40s entertained their counterparts from the Alnwick and District League on Sunday at the Leazes.

Batting first, the home side suffered an early shock with the ever dependable Allan Murray falling for a duck off the final ball of the first over.

This brought debutant Colin Walker to the wicket to partner his older brother Trevor.

The partnership was broken in the eighth over when Walker junior skied a catch taken by wicket keeper Stephenson.

A quickfire 28 by Michael Parker, included five boundaries and a six, boosted the score before he was bowled by Simmons.

Enter Andrew Brown, obviously in a hurry. He produced seven sixes and three fours in a powerful display of hitting before being stumped for a magnificent 65.

At the other end Trevor Walker was still accumulating runs and was eventually dismissed in the 34th over for a well made 80, with the score on 199.

The lower other batsmen all pushed to take the score towards the final total of 227, with the highlight being a huge six from John Hepple.

The Alnwick and District innings also got off to a bad start when Clarke was run out with the score on eight, with Thompson following shortly after, the score was 14-2 off five overs.

Simmons and Davison took the score to 69 at a good rate until the Haltwhistle stalwart Philip Thompson removed Simmons, caught behind by Brown.

He then had Rogerson brilliantly caught by Walker senior next ball to be on a hat-trick, which Brian Doyle successfully negotiated.

At this point the game started to change with the introduction of Richard Stokoe and Dickie Purvis bowling their variation of flight and spin.

Richard’s eight overs went for just 24 and Dickie’s seven overs for 59, with Davison taking a liking to his “slower” ball, which disappeared beyond Leazes Lane on four occasions.

He was eventually dismissed for an entertaining 61, stumped by Andrew Brown off John Hepple.

The innings finally closed with the introduction of Haltwhistle spinner, Michael Parker, one wicket for no runs off three balls.

Pick of the bowler was David Archbold, although taking no wickets, his eight overs went for only 15 runs including four maidens.

Although the West Tyne won by 68 runs everyone present enjoyed a day of fine cricket, food, talk of old times and a few “tinnies” to wash it down.

WEST TYNE LEAGUE: A. Murray c Simmons b Doyle 0; T. Walker c Thompson b Hindmarsh 80; C. Walker c Stephenson b Mills 8; M. Parker b Simmons 28; A. Brown c Stephenson b Rogerson 65; G. Chambers c Hindmarsh b Rogerson 5; P. Thompson b Hindmarsh 9; R. Stokoe not out 3; D. Archibold b Doyle 5; J. Hepple not out 12; extras 12; total 227-8.

Bowling: B. Doyle 8-1-26-2; S. Mills 5-1-27-1; B. Simmons 6-1-37-1; R. Davison 6-0-32-0; K. Thompson 2-0-22-0; G. Rogerson 6-1-22-2; A. Hindmarsh 7-1-49-2.

ALNWICK AND DISTRICT: I. Clarke run out 1; K. Thompson b Hepple 4; B. Simmons c Brown b Thompson 40; R. Davison st Brown b Hepple 61; G. Rogerson c T. Walker b Thompson 0; B. Doyle c Chamberlain b Purvis 16; A. Hindmarsh st Brown b Hepple 11; G. Stephenson no tout 13; A.J. Scott b Thompson 2; S. Mills c C. Walker b Thompson 0; B. Bickerton st Brown b Parker 0; extras 11; total 159.

Bowling: D. Archbold 8-4-15-0; J. Hepple 8-1-39-3; R. Stokoe 8-2-24-0; P. Thompson 7-2-12-4; R. Purvis 7-0-59-2; M. Parker 0.3-0-0-1.