Home victory helps Corbridge move clear of Berwick

After losing the toss and being put in to bat, hosts Corbridge posted an impressive total of 293-5 from the allotted 50 overs.

Their batting stars were opener Michael Watts (114 not out including 17 boundaries) and No.5 Jacques Du Toit (91 from 72 balls including 8 boundaries and 5 sixes), with the pair adding 142 for the fourth wicket.

In reply, Cowgate Sports were always behind the required run rate and closed on 234-8 with Ahmad Raza (87) top-scorer.

Tanvir Choudhury and Jake Wilson both took three wickets as Corbridge recorded a comfortable fourth win of the season.

In Division One, Stocksfield made it four wins in a row in a low-scoring game at Backworth.

Batting first after winning the toss, Stocksfield slipped from 130-6 to 139 all out with the wickets shared by John Duncan (6-21 off 6.4 overs) and Chris Liddle (4-30 off 12 overs).

In Backworth's reply, an opening stand of 26 was the highest of the innings as they were dismissed for 119.

After top-scoring on 37, Sam Beedle (4-43 off 12 overs) was the most successful of Stocksfield's bowlers, with the other wickets claimed by Luke Doneathy (3), Ryan Chamberlain (2) and Andrew Wood (1).

Also in Division One, Matfen lost by 94 runs at home to Morpeth.

Chasing the visitors' total of 244-7 from the allotted 50 overs, Matfen slumped to 49-7 before late resistance from No.9 Zeeshan Bhatti (51) saw them eventually dismissed for 150.

Morpeth's star player was Michael Craigs who followed up his knock of 60 with figures of 3-38 off 10.2 overs.

in Division Three, more than 470 runs were scored at Allendale where the hosts won by three wickets against Ponteland.

Batting first after winning the toss, opener Ben Rigby (80) top-scored for the visitors who closed on 235-9 with the wickets shared by Liam Pringle (4-42 off 12 overs), Will Ainsley (2) and Robbie Sparke (2).

In reply, opener Jonny Wallace (92 including 20 boundaries) and No.4 Will Ainsley (46) along with double figure knocks from the five players who followed Ainsley to the crease ensured that Allendale reached their target in the 48th over.

In Division Four South, there were wins for Haltwhistle, Riding Mill and Wylam. The evergreen Phil Thompson picked up five wickets as Haltwhistle dismissed hosts Cowgate Sports for 155.

The South Tyne visitors were in trouble on 18-4 before an unbroken fifth wicket stand of 138 between Callum Snowdon (75 not out) and Archie Richardson (49 not out) carried them across the line in the 30th over.

Whickham's decision to bat first at Riding Mill didn't go to plan as they were dismissed for only 99 in 21.3 overs despite spirited resistance from opener Ethan Morris (68) against Riding Mill's attack spear-headed by Michael Collins (6-48 off 11 overs) and Andy Watson (3-7 off 2.3 overs).

After slipping to 42-5, Riding Mill were rescued by Andy Watson (17) and No.8 Nick Rodger (45 not out) as they reached their target in the 24th over with three wickets in hand.

In an exciting finish at Stocksfield, the hosts lost by four runs against Wylam (189-8) after looking well placed for victory on 172-7.

Chris Japes (63 not out) starred with the bat for Wylam before Alex Buczma (4-40 off 11.1 overs) and James Cantrell (3-26 off 8 overs) did most of the damage with the ball.

In Division Five South, visitors Newton inflicted a third defeat of the season on leaders Annfield Plain who were dismissed for 125.

Charlie Laverick (3-34) and Northern Alliance football referee Dan Taylor (3-26) were the pick of Newton's bowlers, before an opening stand of 105 between Peter Hirst (52) and Rob Benn (52 not out) ensured an early finish as the visitors reached their target in only 21 overs with nine wickets in hand.

Stamfordham are only 19 points behind Annfield Plain after beating bottom of the table Gosforth Strikers by 144 runs.

Stamfordham's top order all reached double figures headed by Tim Perowne (38) and Andrew McGrath (34), with the final total of 214 all out boosted by 41 extras.

The struggling hosts were then dismissed for a paltry 70 in 24.2 overs, with the wickets claimed by Sudharshan Thotalu (3), George Devine (2), Joe Turnbull (2), Kobe Wiles (1) and Cieran Murphy (1).

James Craig (6-32 off 5.4 overs) and Milo Robinson (3-28 off 9 overs) starred with the ball for Corbridge as hosts Greenside were dismissed for 118 having been 69-9 at one stage.

Valuable knocks from Ben Tiffin (30), Oscar Foot (30) and Oliver Crewdson (26 not out) proved enough for Corbridge to get across the line in the 26th over with four wickets in hand.

Newcastle Super Kings (204-5) moved out of the relegation zone after beating Benwell Hill by 110 runs and are now 27 points ahead of second-bottom Humshaugh, who suffered a ninth defeat of the season at Blaydon.

Matfen's eighth win of the season at Belsay by eight wickets against South Northumberland saw them move up to fourth in the table and they are now only seven points behind second-placed Stanfordham.

Their player of the match was opener Justin Dempsey who backed up his knock of 77 not out by taking two wickets.

In Division Six West, Belsay are only four points behind leaders Newbrough after winning the top of the table clash by three wickets.

Bertie Spence (50) and Daniel Tate (71) were the main contributors in Newbrough's total of 187 all out, with Andrew Welford (4-36 off 9 overs) the pick of the bowlers.

In reply, Belsay were staring defeat in the face on 84-7 before being rescued by No.6 Ben Hewitt (87 not out from 88 balls) and No.8 Andrew Welford (38 not out).

There was a better outcome for Newbrough last Thursday night when they secured a place in the Enid Farmer Cup Final with victory over local rivals Haltwhistle by five wickets.

After losing the toss and being put in to bat, visitors Haltwhistle were struggling on 50-6 and then 71-8 before an unbroken ninth wicket stand of 32 between skipper Matty Dodd (37 not out) and Billy Gibson (2 not out) saw them close on 103-8 from the allotted 20 overs.

The pick of Newbrough's four bowlers were Thomas Jepson (3-29) and Lewis Reekie (2-24).

In reply, Newbrough opener and skipper Bertie Spence (41) steadied the ship following the loss of two early wickets and a third wicket stand of 59 with Lewis Reekie (14 not out) proved crucial before they reached their target with 15 balls to spare. 

They will face Benwell & Walbottle in the Final at Blaydon on Sunday, August 2.

In Division One of the North East Premier League, Tynedale's winless run goes on after leaders Tynemouth reached their challenging target off the penultimate ball of the match in yet another high-scoring encounter at Priors Flat.

The main contributors in Tynedale's total of 307-6 from 58 overs were opener Leo Johnson (105 from 122 balls) and No.5 James Rainford (93 not out from 68 balls).

In reply, six of the eight Tynemouth players who came to the crease scored a minimum of 36 runs with an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 90 between J.Hull-Denholm (52 not out) and Jack Roys (38 not out) seeing them across the line in a nail-biting finish.

In a one-sided affair in Division Two, Tynedale 2nd XI remain second-bottom after losing by 10 wickets against their Tynemouth counterparts and are now 35 points adrift of Whitburn.

Richard Darling (44) and No.10 Hugo Odd (22 not out) were the only innings of note as Tynedale were dismissed for 141 in 43 overs before Tynemouth openers Chris Fairley (76 not out) and Andrew Davison (50 not out) knocked off the required runs in only 19.4 overs.