Last updated at 11:53, Friday, 19 June 2009

AFTER being beaten out of sight by high-flying Swalwell the previous week, Tynedale first XI bounced back in style on Saturday.

Super six: Although he failed to impress with the bat, Tynedale professional Barry Stewart made up for with the ball, taking 6-29

They took cricket to its limits with a dominating 204 run victory over Ryton.

With four players missing, including captain Richard Darling, Tynedale looked as though they could be in for a battling match.

With John Robertson returning after a spell away from the club, Joe Barber returning from injury and Ian Riccalton being promoted from the second XI. Jamie Crichton was made skipper for the game.

With Tynedale batting first they needed a bright start to enforce their dominance over the home team.

Neil Clark and Joe Barber opened the innings and made the bright start that was required.

Clark began his innings in his usual fashion by harshly punishing the bad ball and Barber stylishly clipped the ball through midwicket several times in the opening overs.

It was not long before both batsmen were in full flow, batting aggressively and taking the attack to the bowlers.

The pair were especially dominant when the spinners came in to the attack, especially punishing young leg-spinner Harms by hitting him for 42 in his first five overs.

Clark and Barber's partnership finally came to an end with the score on 163 when Barber clipped the spinner to cover for a very well made 83 from 79 balls.

Clark soon followed with the score on 181, making a powerful 84 from 79 deliveries.

Professional Barry Stewart then looked to build on the start made by the openers.

He began to construct an innings, pushing singles and running hard between the wickets.

This was made harder due to a double wicket strike, captain Crichton and young James Rainford being dismissed without getting a chance to show their skills.

Ian Riccalton joined the pro at the crease and immediately took the attack to the bowlers.

The pair put on 64 in 40 minutes with a wide range of strokeplay that was extremely aesthetically pleasing.

Stewart began to score off more deliveries and Riccalton struck four boundaries in a dominant 32 before he was dismissed.

Ben Lloyd joined Stewart and looked to rotate the strike.

Stewart continued his good form with the bat and finished on 75, being caught on the boundary in the last ball of the innings.

Tynedale finishing their innings on a majestic 304-7.

Ryton began their innings showing the intent required to chase down Tynedale's mammoth total.

Alex Thomson and all-rounder Joe Barber opened the bowling and immediately showed threat with the ball.

Barber was especially dangerous, bowling at good pace and troubling the opening batsmen on many occasions.

The pair bowled eight tight overs before the wicketless Thomson was replaced by John Robertson.

The intuition of the skipper paid off immediately as Robertson picked up a wicket with only his second ball.

Ryton then began to tick the score along, moving to 67 before Robertson picked up his second wicket of the game.

Another piece of excellent bowling changes saw off-spinner Liam Pringle brought into the attack.

Pringle picked up his first wicket with only his second delivery.

The wickets continued to fall as Robertson routinely deceived the batsmen with a mixture of swing and delicate slower balls.

Pringle and Robertson forming an excellent bowling partnership, taking seven wickets in 15 overs between them, costing a meagre 24 runs in the process.

Robertson finished a magnificent 11 over spell with the figures of 5-25.

Ross Keady replaced him and took the final wicket.

After some disappointing showings in the first half of this season, this performance proved Tynedale could still have a highly successful season.

First published at 09:39, Friday, 19 June 2009
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk