ECB North East Premier league

May 12 2008 by The Journal

ON a day when Chester-le-Street boosted their title hopes with a win over Benwell Hill, the champions South Northumberland turned in a performance that secured maximum points and moved them into top slot in the North East Premier League.

The Cestrians started at Denton Bank leading the table and put themselves in a powerful position by bowling out the hosts for 102. Luke Evans took five wickets at a cost of just 28 in an 11-over stint. With Andrew Bell (3-25) giving excellent support only Rob Frylinck (36) looked likely to break the bowlers’ hold.

And it was Frylinck who started to make Chester hearts flutter as he worked his way through their batting line-up when he got hold of the ball. It took the nerve of Adam Nairn at number eight to win the day – his unbeaten 21 was priceless as he eased his team to a two-wicket success despite Frylinck’s six-wicket burst.

There was something inevitable about South North’s hammering of Gateshead Fell. Fell have struggled so far and a game against the Gosforth outfit was probably not on their wish list. There was hope for the underdogs as they struck two early blows, but the strength in depth of the champions’ batting stood them in good stead. There were half centuries for skipper John Graham, Chris Hewison and Jimmy Miller. Pete Towner (4-54) and Will Gidman (3-29) toiled for the home side but the South North total of 243-8 still looked imposing.

Martin Bekker (53) gave hope to Gateshead but then spin took over as Lee Crozier (5-54) and Richard Brook (3-46) worked their way through the innings to give South North a 99-run win and take them to the top of the table.

South Shields moved into third as the Muchall boys swept them to an eight-wicket win over Stockton. The Teessiders looked on the way to a big score when Durham player Karl Turner and South African Brendon Adams were at the crease. They came together with the score on six and shared a second wicket stand of 63. But once they went, Turner for 43 and Adams for 19, the innings folded as Matthew (5-31 from 13 overs) and Paul (4-41 from 16 overs) ran through the rest of the visiting line up at little cost.

Shields were in no mood to hang about when chasing their victory target, and it was Paul who was the thorn in the side as he smashed 12 fours and two sixes in an unbeaten 74, scored from 85 balls, with the home team securing an eight wicket victory in 28 overs.

Tynemouth’s winning start ended at Blaydon as Stephen Gale (79no) starred in a five-wicket win, Norton were surprise victors over Sunderland, and there was a superb run chase at Riverside where Durham Academy were set 309 to win by Newcastle, and duly made them courtesy of Andrew Smith’s scintillating 158, making Durham player Mark Stoneman (130) probably the unluckiest loser of the day.

CHRIS WEST