Richmondshire moved to the brink of the ECB Premier Division title with a crushing 10-wicket victory over Marton at The Parkway, a win built on a remarkable spell of nine wickets for 25 runs from overseas professional Lalith Akkaraju.
Put in to bat after losing the toss, Marton never recovered from the moment Akkaraju found his rhythm. He took the first wicket with the total on 13 and simply did not stop, working his way through the order with relentless accuracy off his 9.3 overs, two of them maidens. Only Shaw, who carried his bat for an unbeaten 28, offered sustained resistance; at the other end wickets tumbled at regular intervals as Akkaraju claimed nine of the ten to fall for 25. Shafiqullah Ghafari took the only wicket not to go to his partner, and Marton were dismissed for 70 inside 20 overs.
The chase was a formality, though it was completed in some style. Gary Pratt (21 not out) and Ghafari (38 not out) knocked off the 71 required inside 10 overs, Ghafari clearing the ropes four times as Richmondshire reached 73 without loss to seal maximum points.
The 25 points could hardly have been better timed. Nearest challengers Barnard Castle saw their home fixture with Stokesley abandoned with the game finely poised – Stokesley 70 for one in pursuit of 199 when the rain arrived – and took only 10 points from the washout. That swing leaves Richmondshire 25 points clear at the top with two matches remaining, the destiny of the title now firmly in their own hands.
Richmondshire play out the run-in knowing that two more sound performances should be enough to bring the Premier Division trophy back to Hurgill Road.
The 1st XI’s YPL Champions Competition final, scheduled for Sunday, fell victim to the weather and did not take place. A rearranged date is to be confirmed.
AROUND THE CLUB
2nd XI – beaten by Billingham Synthonia
The 2nd XI had a chastening afternoon at home, going down by 139 runs to Billingham Synthonia in NYSD Division 1. Winning the toss and choosing to field on a rain-affected day, Richmondshire were set a revised target of 197 from 53 overs after the visitors posted 196 all out. J Watson anchored that total with 72 and T Harper added 65, though the innings was pegged back by an excellent return of four for 48 from Jordan Forbes and a tidy three for 42 from Jake Percival. The reply never got going, subsiding to 57 all out inside 22 overs; Jake Percival top-scored with 23 not out and Bertie Morris made 15, but no one else reached double figures.
4th XI – agonisingly close at Preston on Tees
The 4th XI came within a whisker of one of the wins of the season at Preston on Tees, ultimately losing by two wickets in a remarkably low-scoring contest in NYSD Division 4. Batting first, Richmondshire were bowled out for just 47, Dave Moffatt (13) and Max Dawson (12) the only batters to make headway. It should not have been enough to compete – yet it very nearly was. Andy Dade tore through the Preston order with figures of six for 20, supported superbly by Michael Platt, whose 10 overs brought one for 11 and seven maidens. Preston slumped to 27 for eight in pursuit of 48 before an unbroken last-wicket stand edged the hosts home with two wickets to spare.
5th XI – comfortable win over East Cowton
There was a fine seven-wicket win for the 5th XI over East Cowton at Richmond School in Darlington & District Division B, achieved despite the side taking the field a player short. East Cowton were held to 93 all out, John Bewell leading the way with four for 26, Abdul Shinwari taking two for 35 and James Cox proving miserly with two maidens in his eight overs. The reply was brisk and untroubled: Jahan Mohammed (29) and Shinwari (28) gave Richmondshire a flying start before Mike White (20 not out) and Matt Bromirskyj (13 not out) saw them home inside 12 overs, 96 for two the winning score.
Be the first to comment