IT was a bad day at the office for the majority of our local sides in the top four divisions of the Northumberland and Tyneside Cricket League with defeats for Stocksfield, Corbridge, Allendale, Hexham Leazes, Ponteland Second XI, Haltwhistle, Riding Mill and Wylam, while the only winners were Matfen, Ponteland and Stocksfield Second XI.
Batting first at home to Swalwell in Division One, Matfen were indebted to Kamran Mansoor (97) and Rohaan Atif (64) as they posted a challenging total of 282 all out from the allotted 50 overs, before dismissing the visitors for 178 with most of the damage done by Mirza Balal Baig (4-28 off 12 overs) and Safiun Diip (3-49 off 9.3 overs).
Also in Division One, visitors Stocksfield collapsed from 161-2 to 196 all out at Ponteland.
In reply, an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 89 between Iftikhaar Fazal (75 not out) and Ben Harris (42 not out) guided the hosts to a comfortable victory.
After dismissing visitors United Stars First XI for 132 in Division Four South, an unbroken fifth-wicket stand between Richard Boschen (62 not out) and Findley McGeachy (40 not out) saw Stocksfield Second XI across the line with more than seven overs to spare.
In Division Five South, only five points separate leaders Annfield Plain Second XI and fourth-placed Blaydon Second XI, with bottom of the table Gosforth Strikers First XI the only team still without a win after six games.
Stocksfield Third XI are top of Division Six South after coming out on top by five runs in a low-scoring thriller at home to bottom of the table Percy Main Second XI.
Batting first, the hosts were all out for only 89 in 27.2 overs and were staring defeat in the face before Percy Main collapsed from 70-5 to 84 all out with most of the damage done by Jack Wraith (5-13 off nine overs).
In Division Six West, leaders Clara Vale Second XI are four points ahead of Newbrough First XI after five games, while Humshaugh lead the way after two games in the West Tyne Midweek League following final over wins against Newbrough and Stocksfield.
Their star performer with the bat in both matches was Rob Forster (75 not out and 53).
Share