The Success Continues

Stanhope versus East Rainton 24th May 2008

With the sun threatening to break through an overcast sky the Roseberry Group North East Durham League Division Two leaders Stanhope won the toss and decided to bat. This was going to be a hard fought game where decisions on who was going to bat or bowl could decide the outcome. Rob Young & Paul Fitchett took to the crease and got the innings off to a cracking start before Rob was called out to a decision of LBW for 6 runs. Paul was joined by Steve Muse to try and keep the innings ticking over however he managed to drag his toe out of the crease and was deftly stumped by L Henderson the East Rainton wicket keeper off the bowling of D Defty. Frankie Stephenson took to the crease to support Paul who was putting together a fine innings with some nicely timed strokes. Paul managed to score 27 runs before striking out to a beautiful catch by D Portey low down off the bowling off J Colledge. Paul said he could not complain about the decision if you are going to be out, the bowling side deserved the wicket for fielding like that.

Adam Robinson walked out to support Frankie and managed to score a run before been given LBW when the ball stuck his left buttock as he attempted to sweep D Defty away. Simon Campbell took to the field and managed to move the score on with 5 runs before been bowled by a nice delivery from T Renwick. Eddie Rowell was to become J Colledge’s next victim after scoring 2 runs. Richie Pringle was next in at a crucial time in the innings were Stanhope had to steady the ship and reduce the number of wickets falling. Frankie managed to put together a steady inning of hard fought runs before falling to a nice catch from the East Rainton captain K Hall off the bowling off J Colledge again. With only 3 batsmen left Richie was going to need some support at the crease to be able to move the score over the 100. Ian Muse went in and managed to score 10 more runs with some nice strokes scoring 2 very strongly hit 4s inn his innings. Steve Wilson was next in but was not there for long as he was bowled for nought by G Headen.

Stanhope’s number 11 batsman took to the field to support Richie, Andrew Kitching was going to need a good innings as Stanhope were 86 for 9 Richie was building a good innings with some well timed strokes as he was not going to be doing a lot of running. Andrew supported him well with a final partnership of 36 hard to come by runs as Stanhope’s innings came to a close with Richie falling to a well held catch by the captain K Hall. Stanhope finished with 122 runs off 36.3 overs. East Raintons early bowling had been tight with some notable bowling figures D Defty finished with 12 overs for 14 runs with 2 wickets and 7 maiden overs. J Colledge returned figures of 11 overs for 26 runs with 4 wickets and 3 maidens.

With a target of 123 runs to win East Rainton a team built on a good reputation of batting must have thought it was well within there reach to achieve the target. Adam Robinson and Richie Pringle were to be Stanhope’s opening bowlers and managed to make some early progress with 3 early wickets East Raintons captain was beautifully caught and bowled by Adam for only 5 runs. Richie managed to gain the wicket of S Archibold for no runs and I think East Rainton realised it was not going to be a roll over. J Ball managed to score 20 runs before been caught by Stanhope’s wicket keeper Frankie Stephenson. M Pethrick managed to score 7 runs before been bowled by Richie with a cracking delivery. J Colledge came to the crease with East Rainton on 32 runs for 4 wickets and steadied a creaking ship with a lovely innings of 38 runs however Stanhope had to field and bowl well if they were to gain a notable victory. Ian Muse & Simon Campbell were the next bowlers to put the batsman under pressure. East Rainton managed to struggle through to a score of 113 before been all bowled out. J Colledge remained unbeaten and was the pick of there batsman.

An item of note here is that each team’s batsmen had scored 98 runs each but the extras decided the winners with Stanhope only posting 15 extras in there figures showing how tight the match had been. Adam Robinson posted figures of 12 overs for 25 runs with 3 wickets and 3 maidens and also held 2 stinging catches, Simon Campbell’s figures were 6.1 overs for 13 runs with 3 wickets and 1 maiden. Ian Muses figures were 8 overs for 31 runs with 2 wickets and finally Richie Pringle returned figures of 9 overs for 29 runs with 2 wickets and 2 maidens. With Coxhoe loosing to Tantobie, Stanhope have consolidated there lead of the Division but have to play at Tantobie on the 31st of May.