Winning two trophies, progressing to the final of the Yorkshire Premier Leagues Champions Competition and closing the gap at the top of the table Richmondshire had the week of weeks.
The first trophy came on Monday in the NYSD U19 T20 Blast final with the defeat of Yarm by 38 runs at Yarm, Captain Joe White produced the individual performance of the final, striking 70 from 39 balls and then taking three for 16 with the ball, as Richmondshire posted 158 for nine and restricted Yarm to 120 for nine.
Max Percival supported White with a brisk 38, while Raam Raj, Lewis Pybus and Fred Lamb each chipped in with a wicket. It was a thoroughly deserved title for a young side that dominated the final and had probably done the hard work when they defeated Hartlepool in the semis.
This was followed on Tuesday as the 1sts became the Collingwood Fifteens Champions. Richmondshire defended 126 to beat Darlington by 40 runs in the final at Feethamsgust. Batting first in the fifteen-over contest, Richmondshire recovered from a precarious 69 for six through Jake Percival (23), Alex Percival (15 not out) and Jordan Moss (13) to reach 126 for eight, Gary Pratt having top-scored with 39.
Darlington were then squeezed out of the chase and restricted to 86 for six, Jordan Moss (two for eight) and Shaun Charlton (two for 25) the pick of the attack as Richmondshire completed a cup double in the week.
In Saturday’s league action the first team had returned to winning ways in the ECB Premier Division with an emphatic eight-wicket victory over third-placed Hartlepool at Hurgill Road, a sharp response to the previous week’s batting struggles at Stokesley.
Put in, Hartlepool were bowled out for 228, Yash Vagadia striking 71 and Scott Borthwick anchoring the innings with 54 not out, before Akkaraju (four for 67) and Wood (four for 91) shared the wickets. Richmondshire then knocked off the runs for the loss of only two wickets, Michael Layfield leading the way with 68, Dan Hodgson finishing 52 not out, and Gary Pratt (49) and Joe White (35 not out) seeing the target of 229 overhauled inside 48 overs.
The result was all the sweeter for events elsewhere. On a day when the division’s leading four sides all met, league leaders Barnard Castle were beaten by eight wickets, bowled out for just 142 by fourth-placed Darlington RA, allowing second-placed Richmondshire to close the gap at the top to nine points. With Barnard Castle to play at home in two weeks the title chase is thrown wide open.
The performance of the week came on Sunday as Richmondshire’s team booked their place in Yorkshire Premier Leagues Champions final of with a commanding nine-wicket win over Castleford at Castleford Cricket Club.
DanHodgson won the toss and asked Castleford to bat, and the decision was handsomely rewarded. The professional Lalith Mohan Akkaraju was irresistible, returning figures of six for 43 from his 14.4 overs to run through the Castleford middle and lower order, and the hosts were held to 180 all out. Owen Smith top-scored with 31 and Hayden Walsh Jr made 27, but nobody could get away as Sam Wood claimed three for 39 and Josh Dowson removed opener Luke Edwards.
The reply was largely untroubled. Tom Dowson making the best of his trip home from Australia – opened with 76 from 86 balls, and with Gary Pratt (83 not out) put on 160 for the first wicket to all but settle matters.
Dowson fell with the target in sight, but Pratt saw it through alongside Dan Hodgson (12 not out) as Richmondshire reached 184 for one in just 30.1 overs. The win carries Richmondshire into the final, where they will meet the winners of the other semi-final between New Farnley and Hoylandswaine – a tie not scheduled until 30 August.
AROUND THE CLUB
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2nd XI (NYSD Division 1) – lost by 8 wickets
The second team went down by eight wickets away to league leaders Sedgefield. Richmondshire were bowled out for 198, Sam Winter top-scoring with 44 and Bertie Morris, Owen Kelly and Raam Raj each contributing 33, but Sedgefield eased home for the loss of only two wickets.
3rd XI (NYSD Sunday Premier) – won by 6 wickets
The third team produced the run-chase of the week, overhauling a target of 265 to beat Wolviston by six wickets at Hurgill Road. Wolviston had declared on 264 for nine, Shoaib Khan striking 118, but captain Isaac Bottomley answered with a magnificent 123 not out, Jahan Mohammed (47) and Griffin Bewell (44 not out) lent valuable support as Richmondshire reached 265 for four.
4th XI (NYSD Division 4) – won by 87 runs
The fourth team recorded an 87-run win at Northallerton. Theo Carey (67), John Clark (55) and Jake Wright (55 not out) powered Richmondshire to 222 for four declared, before Northallerton were bowled out for 135. Lewis Pybus took three for 26, Andy Dade two for 22 and Louis Morris two for 53, while Jonny Baines returned the eye-catching figures of one for four from five overs, four of them maidens.
5th XI (Darlington & District Division B) – lost by 104 runs
The fifth team lost by 104 runs at Middleton St George. The hosts posted 220 for eight, with Jahan Mohammed taking three for 42 and Sophie White one for 32. In reply Richmondshire were bowled out for 116, Alfie Bottomley top-scoring with 19 and Max Bromirskyj making 17.
