A CENTURY and a half from Gateshead‘s Hassan Muhammed ended a tough week for Corbridge.

After losing twice to Clara Vale in cup competitions, they lost by 120 runs at home to Gateshead Ethnic Minorities in the league.

It was number two Muhammed who made them suffer, whacking his way to 152 from 131 deliveries as he hit 20 fours and two sixes.

He made sure his side got off to a steady start alongside opener Hasan Tahir (16) who departed to a catch from Michael Kirchner off David Hardy (3-51) with the score on 36.

Gateshead skipper Faizaan Ahmed was only able to make two before being caught by Dean Robinson to give Hardy his second victim, and his third came when he bowled Balakrishnan Krishnan (6).

While Muhammed continued to crank the pressure up, Corbridge keeper Ross Atkinson played a big part in removing the next three wickets.

He caught Syed Saad Ali Shah (17) and Omer Hussain (12) off Michael Kirchner (1-55) and Derek Robinson (2-21) respectively, either side of a stumping of Haris Muhammad (1), again off Robinson.

Amir Mukhtar (23) helped Munhammed get the team beyond the 200 mark before going to Dean Robinson (1-42), with Tabashir Alam (16) then joining the party to move the team to 291 until he was caught by Hardy off Andy Dover (3-42).

Dover then removed the remaining two wickets as Muhammed finally fell for a fantastic 152 to a catch from Mattie Thompson, and he trapped Amaan Ul-Haq (0) as they were all out for 291.

Corbridge were always up against it and their cause wasn‘t helped when they lost Simon Walker (4) fairly early in their reply.

Replacement Thompson (5) didn‘t last too long and he was caught with the score on 46-2.

Atkinson (74) was chipping away all the while and, with the assistance of 11 runs from Dover, they moved towards the 100 mark.

They stuttered over with John Maude coming in and making four runs, but Atkinson and Kirchner tried to rescue the innings at 115-4.

Yet Atkinson’s impressive stay at the crease ended when he was lbw to Amir Mukhtar (3-38), his 74 coming from 68 balls and including 13 fours and a six. His dismissal was quickly followed by that of Kirchner (3) and Dean Robinson (2).

George Ridley (15) and Hardy (21) showed some late order resistance, but both were caught to leave young Daniel Craigie and Derek Robinson together in the crease and Corbridge well short of their target.

Robinson made six before falling to Tahir (1-8), leaving Craigie (3no) last man standing but Corbridge all out on 171.

Corbridge’s week started in the thrilling one run defeat to Clara Vale in the Wilson Cup, the same opposition inflicting a 42 run defeat on them in the Birkett Cup a few evenings later.

Corbridge II felt the wreath of a century maker too as they lost by 124 runs at Cramlington II.

The hosts‘ opener Lee Wilkinson powered his way to 114 in his side’s 238-7, finally going by sending a catch to bowler Chris Jowsey (2-48).

Captain Jowsey was joined in the wickets by Harry Oliver (1-46), Finn Garret-Jowsey (2-49) and John Davidson (2-54).

Corbridge openers Mike Stephenson (27) and David Smurthwaite (44) got their reply off to a decent start, but the runs started to dry up after Stephenson‘s dismissal.

Jowsey (14) was the only other batsman to reach double figures as they ended their innings on 114-6.