The week had started well as Richmondshire earned their second NYSD Cup of the season by defeating Thornaby in the Collingwood Hundred on Wednesday.
It was also revenge for the defeat by Thornaby the previous week which had thwarted Richmondshire’s ambition of a clean sweep of the cups.
Shaun Charlton (two for 24) took two early wickets as Thornaby batted first but it looked as if there might be a repeat of the previous week when Thornaby’s professional Hussain Bukhari, who’s century had been largely responsible for the defeat again reached fifty.
The game turned when Harvey Websdale (four for 25) claimed his wicket and Thornaby ended on135 for eight.
The Richmondshire innings got off to a brisk start with fifteen from nine balls from Brad Elsworth before he was leg before with the score on 23 for one. Tom Dowson (32) and Mike Layfield (41) continued the attack with a 50 partnership. 36 not out from Gary Pratt sealed the victory with 11 balls to spare with the total at 137 for 3.
Richmondshire have the opportunity to take a third NYSD cup on Sunday when they play Barnard Castle in the 40 over Kerridge Cup Final at Darlington C.C. with a 1.30pm start.
Things didn’t go so well on Saturday when Richmondshire were defeated by Saltburn. Saltburn’s form has seen a dramatic upturn since the arrival of professional Vishant More and they came into the game on a run of three wins.
Put into bat Richmondshire made an unusually slow start with captain Bob Carr taking 41 balls to score seven before he was out with the score at 37 for one. Tom Dowson was also less aggressive than normal with 45 from 73. With Mike Layfield adding 57 and Gary Pratt 31 Richmondshire reached 149 for 4 but as they attempted to accelerate towards the end of the innings more wickets fell and only Sam Wood with 24 could contribute much to the total which ended on 192 for 7.
Two wickets for Harvey Websdale without a run on the board was an encouraging start but Richmondshire were only able to take one more wicket as Vishant More then scored 98 not out as Saltburn reached 195 for 3 in 43.2 overs.
This gave Richmondshire only five points while Barnard Castle had a 25-point win making a big dent in Richmondshire lead in the league. They remain top with 320 points with Middlesbrough second with 298 (having played one game more) and Barnard Castle on 297.
On Sunday Richmondshire and a large following of supporters travelled to Woodhouse Grange Cricket Club to take part in the ECB National T20 group finals. This brought together the winners of the T20 cups from the North Eastern League, the North Yorkshire South Durham League, the Bradford League and the Yorkshire Premier League North.
In the first semi-final the host club outplayed Hanging Heaton of the Bradford League, bowling them out for 75 and knocking off the runs in 10 overs. Richmondshire then faced old rivals South Northumberland who they have encountered regularly in rounds of the National Club Cup.
An excellent bowling performance by Richmondshire dismissed South Northumberland for 105. Shaun Charlton taking four for 19, Sam Wood two for 14 and Josh Dowson two for 9.
Faced with what looked a fairly modest score Richmondshire lost opener Tom Dowson with five on the board and then were forced to see off two spin bowlers who were making life difficult. A patient 40 from Mike Layfield and 31 not out from Bob Carr followed by a final burst from Owen Kelly with 21 from 11 put them through to the final with 107 for three in 16.2 overs.
For the final Richmondshire won the toss and put in Woodhouse Grange. There was a wicket for Harvey Websdale without a run on the board but an outstanding innings of 78 from Fritz de Boer Woodhouse’s South African overseas professional left Richmondshire with the tough task of chasing 166.
Tom Dowson got the innings off to a great start hitting two massive sixes in the first over but he was then out for 19 with the score on 28. The Richmondshire innings then collapsed to 40 for five as none of the top order batsmen could get established.
Also falling behind the required rate it became a case of hitting out and hoping for a miracle. Josh Dowson became top score with 31 from 17 balls with three sixes but the innings ended at 119 all out in 16.5 overs.
On Saturday the 2nds were on the receiving end of a blitz by the Darlington RA batsmen as they put on 363 for 7. Richmondshire did well to hang on for a draw largely thanks to 69 not out from Richie Carruthers, ending on 198 for seven.
The 4th team lost to Bedale by nine wickets, after making 146 all out Bedale knocked off the runs in 24.3 overs. The outstanding performance of the weekend was an innings off 161 not out from 14 year old Joe White as Richmondshire 5ths put on 269 for 5 at Raby Castle.
Raby fell well short, being dismissed for 128. Joe White taking three for five and father Mike taking three for three.
On Sunday the 3rds visited Seaton Carew 2nds and took 20 points with a five wicket win to stay top of the table. Seaton made 159 for 5 and with 73 not out from Jamie Stead Richmondshire were able to complete the win with two overs to spare.
