Match Reports

Saturday 31st May 2003

Newcastle 1st XI vs Stockton (Away)

Newcastle 1st XI travelled to Stockton on the back of a good bank holiday weekend with a win and a losing draw, knowing that the vastly improved Stockton would be a hard side to beat having recruited well over the winter. However we were also in good spirits fielding possibly the strongest Newcastle side since the start of the Premier League, with a welcome debut for our other Durham CCC player Danny Law. Everyone arrived in good spirits, except for captain Ritzy who had been stuffed out of sight by Jonny B who used his local knowledge to perfection by sending the captain on a wild goose chase!

Stockton won the toss and elected to bat on a slowish pitch that looked like the best time for bowling would be early on whilst the ball was hard. Angry started in fine fashion and removed the top two and Danny chipped in with a great run out off his own bowling. Danny & Angry bowled well in the heat and some tight bowling restricted Stockton to 30 for 3. However as the ball got older the batsmen started to pick up runs, and despite the regular fall of wickets Stockton managed to score 190 All Out. The fielding in the first session was the best seen by a Newcastle side for a number of years; however we again switched off after lunch and allowed Stockton to get 30 more runs than they should have. The bowling again was good and the wickets where evenly spread with Danny Law (2), Alex (3), Ryan (3), Jonny B (1) & a run out.

Knowing that there were 58 overs to bat & about and hour to the tea interval we knew that 1st session could be crucial in any run chase. We managed to get to tea at 30 for 0 and after lunch set about bringing the deficit down. Tim Stonock was the first to fall for a fluent 47 to a dubious LBW, which looked like it was going down the legside. Matt Hynd (19) and Ryan (5) followed in quick succession leaving Newcastle 85 for 3. Stockton were allowed to seize the initiative, bowling some tight lines, before the pressure mounted and Nick Tomlinson (6) & Ritzy (30) were dismissed. This brought together Will Allen & Danny Law who batted well, raising the tempo. However their efforts could not quite make up for lost time, and Big Will was run out for a well made 23 in the penultimate over and Danny perished in the last over going all out for the win. This still left time for Kingers & Alex to fall for ducks in search of the victory, when it looked like we already had a winning draw. A nervy final three balls followed, Jonny B displaying a secure defence, leaving us with a draw, 13 runs short with one wicket remaining.

All in all a good game of cricket which we nearly won, nearly lost, and in the end drew! Whether or not it was a winning draw is debatable, (an umpires' convention is required to ascertain the outcome!) but whichever way the decision falls there's no doubt that this was an exciting days play in the sunshine!

Newcastle must try to bowl and field as we did in the first session and if we can do that then we can give someone a real shock and bowl them over cheaply. On the batting front there's no doubt that we must improve our cricketing awareness and bat with greater belief in our abilities to take the initiative when chasing, in order to gain the rewards much of our cricket deserves.

Newcastle 2nd XI vs Stockton (Home)

With Danny Law making his debut for the first team, Newcastle 2s had the reliable services of the 'Overs Thief' Keith Brown for our top of the table clash with Stockton. Having lost the toss, we were asked to bat on a glorious pitch. We smoked 60+ from the opening 9 overs with no loss, Jimmy Matt in particular being extremely harsh on the Stockton opening attack. After Jimmy's dismissal, Hurfio Slicio slashed at a wide one, and with Rowdy falling first ball, our good start had been ruined. Clarky then continued with his good form by hitting a well constructed 50 before being caught one handed by their bearded skipper. Only skipper BDS contributed with any substantial score, with 34 not out as we mustered a disappointing 212 all out.

Their opening partnership then made light work of the target as they rattled 75 from the opening 15 overs, with their first team opener making 59, despite being adjacent on a least two occasions to the bowling of Nicky Humble - the umpiring in this game was dubious to say the least. Having removed the openers, Nick then made headway through the middle order and ended up with figures of 4-60 from his allotted 15 overs, with Keith and BDS taking the other wickets to fall. We then had them on the ropes at 130-6, with their skipper and their wicket keeper in bat on 0 each. They then managed to score the runs required with 3 overs remaining with a partnership of 75. During this time, their young wicket keeper cried to the umpire when our Legend told him where to go after the biggest nick ever not to be hear by the Vamps had been turned down.

A great disappointment to lose the game; we batted poorly after a good start given to us by Zimmer and Hurfs, then lacked the bowling strength to beat them when in a compromising position. Roll on Blaydon...