Rain fails to stop play as Richmondshire enjoy comfortable win over Thornaby

Richmondshire enjoyed a successful weekend despite the weather.

The repeated downpours of May have hardly made for good cricketing weather but despite another wet week cricket was played with good results for Richmondshire.

Many had anticipated that play wouldn’t be possible at Hurgill Road, where much of the ground was under water during the week.

A mammoth effort by groundsman Geoff Thorpe and his helpers meant that a delayed mid-afternoon start was possible for the firsts at home to Thornaby

With more rain threatening Richmondshire’s bowlers wasted no time in running through the Thornaby batting line up. All out for 56 in 25 overs, topping the bowling was Craig Marshall with four for 23.

Play was then delayed by another massive downpour and when play was able to resume the Richmondshire batsmen wasted no time in knocking off the runs in just 6.4 overs.

Despite the comprehensive victory they lost some ground in the league with Hartlepool beating Marske by just one run for another 25 point win and with Barnard Castle also taking 25 points Richmondshire slip back to third.

With more rain forecast for Sunday afternoon Richmondshire and Sheriff Hutton agreed to bring the start of the National Club Cup game already postponed from the previous Sunday forward by two hours.  This proved a wise decision as the game was completed just half an hour before the rain arrived again.

The last time the two teams met in the Yorkshire Premier Leagues play off semi-final two seasons ago Sheriff Hutton had been easy winners dismissing Richmondshire for 42. Sunday proved to be a completely different story with two of their 2019 team now having county contracts and no longer available for the competition.

On a difficult wicket Richmondshire did well to make 221 for nine in their 40 overs. Sam Wood leading the scoring with 60 supported by Gary Pratt 51. Sheriff Hutton then went down showing surprisingly little fight.

They very quickly fell below the required scoring rate and never got to grips with the Richmondshire attack. They were dismissed for 99 with Shaun Charlton taking three for 18 and Craig Marshall three for 15.

Richmondshire seconds recorded their best total of the season with 233 for nine at Sedgefield. With Owen Kelly 109 not out. Sedgefield the hung of for a draw making 142 for seven.

Richmondshire fourths shocked league leaders Stockton seconds, who were unbeaten since August 2019. Star with both bat and ball was Julius Glasgow. Taking four for 23 as Stockton struggled to 130 for nine. Julius then scored 75 from just 59 balls as Richmondshire won by five wickets in 30 overs.

Both the third and fifth team were unable to play with the Richmond School pitch waterlogged.