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Four set the early pace in NYSD League
FOUR clubs - Richmondshire,
Normanby Hall, Middlesbrough
and Guisborough - have set
themselves up as the
pacesetters after the first three
games.
But unlike last year when
Northallerton enjoyed runaway
success in the first half of the
season, it seems likely that
there'll be more twists and
turns with the four teams now
leading the way likely to stay
close competitors.
Richmondshire defeated
Marske to move back into pole
position while Normanby Hall
who started their game at Great
Ayton as leaders found
themselves battling for draw
points and are now in second
place.
Champions Middlesbrough
moved to third with an ominous
win against newly promoted
Billingham Synthonia while it
was Guisborough who pushed
their noses into fourth place
despite being held by
Northallerton.
On a day when nail-biting
finishes provided the sort of
cricket people like to watch.
Richmondshire were among
two clubs to win from the last
ball of their respective games.
Marton were the other side who
triumphed in an identical
climax at Redcar.
It was a fine skipper's innings
by Clive Layfield which took
Richmond to victory after Rob
Nicol (66) and Steve Chapman
(33) shared in an opening stand
of 71 to set a target of 177 to
win.
The home batsmen all
contributed well, including
Jamie Stead (24), to leave 25
runs needed from the last 21
balls. Layfield (41 not out) held
his nerve even with nine runs
required from the last over. He
got seven of them including a
crucial two runs from the last
ball.
Marton's last ball victory was
engineered by Chris Lane who
batted throughout for an
unbeaten 78 and when six runs
were needed from the last five
balls, with his final partner at
the wicket, became doubly
determined to win the day.
Tim Hood (4-67) did his best to
frustrate and Redcar's
professional, Tariq Aziz hit a
century and didn't deserve to be
on the losing side. He made 113
including six fours and two
sixes.
Middlesbrough took full
advantage of Billingham's
nervous start to life back in the
premier division after two years
away by bowling them out for
just 118 and then powering their
way to an eight-wicket win.
Craig Symington (73 from 130
balls) did his best to put the
Synners on top but James
Beaumont (4-16) turned the
tables.
Then after sharing an
opening stand of 51 with James
Lowe (32), newcomer Paul
Johnston, hit an undefeated 59.
Normanby Hall's Keith
Martin found his batting skills
were needed to stave off defeat
at Great Ayton.
He had to play out time as the
Hall faced the last two overs of
the innings with nine wickets
down and Chris Batchelor (6-60)
looking for victory. Martin (4-60)
had put Ayton in trouble on 88-6
before Anthony Doyle (54 not
out) rescued them to reach 159-
8. Normanby finished on 142-9
with Chris Trillo (41) in defiant
mood.
Skipper Liam Botham hit a
half century to rally
Northallerton when they could
have plunged to defeat against
Guisborough.
They were on 44 for 3 when he
came to the wicket and
although they then dipped to
119 for 6 he saw them to safety
on 152-8 before he was last out.
Ritchard Bentley took two
wickets with two balls but for a
second successive week missed
out on the hat-trick.
Guisborough also struggled at
85 for 5 before Will Wyatt (36)
helped them reach 162-8.
Blackhall's new professional,
South African Warren Swan,
was the day's second century
maker sharing in a second
wicket stand of 142 with
Masood Mirza (45).
His 128 included 15 fours and
four sixes and came from 143
balls. Responding to the
Colliers' 239-3, Hartlepool had
Michael Gough (76) and Jack
Wilkinson (62) in partnership
for all but three runs of their
reply of 160-3, the scoring rate
being kept in check by Mirza
who bowled 18 overs and
conceded just 47 runs.
Darlington celebrated a first
win of the season after Doug
Mulholland (42 and 4-32) proved
their star all-rounder against
Bishop Auckland. Despite four
run-outs, the Quakers totalled
141-9 and then bowled out
Bishops for just 103 with the
last four wickets falling for four
runs.
In the First Division,
relegated Saltburn enjoyed a
first win at Middlesbrough
while Thornaby crushed
Richmond's second string, and
Stokesley won at Normanby
Hall.
9:24am Monday 5th May 2008
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