Northern Rock North East premier league
Jul 21 2008 The Journal
ON another rain-interrupted weekend only one game in the Northern Rock North East Premier League enjoyed a reasonable amount of play – yet it produced a dramatic ending.
Everything seemed set for another South Northumberland victory when visitors Gateshead Fell were restricted to 137-9 in the 39 overs available in the truncated game. Even this represented a superb recovery after the innings had been in tatters.
Johnny Foster (49 – including five fours and one six) had combined with Richard Steele (29) to rescue Fell after the first five batsmen could only muster six runs between them. Lee Crozier (4-42 in 11 overs) and Craig Smith (3-37 in 13 overs) were caused the most damage for the champions.
While only 28 overs were available to South North, everything seemed straightforward with Chris Hewison (31) giving them a solid start which continued with skipper John Graham (28).
The last two overs were started with South North needing 10 to win with five wickets standing, but panic set in when Martin Bekker delivered a double wicket maiden. Pete Towner had the honour of delivering the last over, and when Adam Heather (41) collected eight from the first five balls, including a four off the fifth, two were needed from the final delivery for victory.
Heather then hit a skier to long on where the fielder held his nerve in the gathering gloom and drizzle and clung to a superb catch. Bekker was the bowling hero for Gateshead with 5-57 in a 12-over spell. South North had to be content with the winning draw points.
But the story doesn’t end there because the fielder taking the last ball catch was a substitute on in place of Michael Cairns who had injured his back while batting, and had only gone along to spectate. Kitted in borrowed gear, former Fell player Anthony Trotter became the unlikely hero.
Elsewhere there was little meaningful play because of the downpours sweeping the region, but Tom Cant (2-6) earned Benwell Hill a bonus point against Chester-le-Street, with the Cestrians struggling on 50-3.
Stockton, too, earned an additional bowling point with South Shields 62-3 at Grangefield, Danny Shurben (30no) firm against the home attack. Ben Raine (34no) and Andrew Smith (25no) put the Durham Academy in the driving seat at Jesmond, where they had advanced to 74-1 against Newcastle after 14.3 overs. There was no play at all at Tynemouth where Blaydon were the visitors.
Sunderland’s home game with Norton was switched at the last moment to Station Road after problems with the Ashbrooke pitch, but the late change of venue couldn’t beat the weather as the Wearsiders ended on 67-2, after Anthony Fawcett picked up two cheap wickets.
MALCOLM PRATT
