The rivalry between the two outstanding teams in the league continued on Saturday, when the latest version of the battle drew a large crowd to Hurgill Road.
It was a game Richmondshire couldn’t afford to lose if they were to have any chance of taking the championship. Only last week Barnard Castle side had taken the Kerridge Cup off Richmondshire in the final and have never been off the top of the table all season.
Dan Hodgson won the toss and elected to field, and his bowlers responded with a disciplined performance that never allowed the visitors to settle. Barnard Castle made a cautious start and after 10 overs only had 29 on the board when Max Percival took the first wicket. Barnard Castle’s intentions of a cautious start and an acceleration in the second half of the innings didn’t work out.
Opening the former Richmondshire player James Clarkson took 82 balls to compile 26 while the danger man Karl Carver had been accounted for by man of the match Joe White. Barney were bowled out for 158 in 48.2 overs, Joe White taking three for 22, Shafi four for 42 and Max Percival two for 35. Lalith ‘s 14 overs included seven maidens and conceded just 22 runs. It was a spell of relentless accuracy that, though it went unrewarded in the wicket’s column, throttled the scoring at one end and allowed the strike bowlers to attack from the other The innings ended with a stunning diving catch on the boundary by Bob Carr which accounted for the last danger man Lakshan.
The chase, however, did not run entirely smoothly, and for a period the destination of the crucial points hung in the balance. Richmondshire lost a wicket from the first ball of the innings and slipped to 56 for three.
The experience of Dan Hodgson combined with the aggression of Joe White turned the game putting on 64 for the fourth wicket. Joe having already made his mark with the ball, seized the innings, striking a fluent 47 from 49 balls with four fours and two sixes to wrest the momentum firmly back in the home side’s favour.
Captain Dan Hodgson anchored the reply with an unbeaten 41 from 79 balls, marshalling the run chase with the calm assurance the occasion demanded and remaining at the crease to see his side home. Sam Wood also showed his experience together with Hodgson at the close, reaching the target to finish on 160 for six in 41.5 overs.
The victory earns Richmondshire the full 20 points to Barnard Castle’s six, and with it a ten-point cushion at the top of the table. With three fixtures remaining, the destiny of the title now rests in Richmondshire’s own hands.
AROUND THE CLUB
2nd XI could not force a result at Vere Road, where their NYSD Division 1 fixture against Barnard Castle ended in a draw. Sam Winter won the toss and elected to field, and the home side posted 202 for eight from their 50 overs, Tom Stockton returning two for 33 and Jake Percival two for 45, with Caleb Bradford taking three for 66 and Jordan Forbes one for 30. In reply Richmondshire fell agonisingly short, closing on 197 for nine — just five runs adrift with a single wicket standing. Jamie Stead held the innings together with a battling 60 from 124 balls, but wickets at the other end meant Richmondshire had to settle for batting out the overs and the draw. Richmondshire took 12 points to Barnard Castle’s 13.
3rd XI enjoyed a comfortable afternoon at Hurgill Road, beating Norton CC Durham by six wickets in the Sunday Premier League. Norton won the toss and chose to bat but were dismissed for 146 in 39.3 overs, Richmondshire’s attack sharing the wickets around, James Cox led the way with two for 27 from eight overs, Alfie Bottomley took two for 27 and Raam Raj two for 26, with Andy Dade, Jordan Forbes and Alex Percival each chipping in.
Richmondshire knocked off the runs in some comfort, reaching 149 for four in 27 overs. Raam Raj top-scored with 32, Griffin Bewell finished 24 not out, Alex Percival made 20 and John Clark 19. Richmondshire claimed 25 points to Norton’s five.
5th XI kept their Darlington & District Division B campaign moving with an 11-run win away at Raby Castle. Put in to bat, Richmondshire made 223 for six from their 40 overs, built around a superb 90 from 128 balls by captain Mike White, who struck 14 fours in an innings that anchored the total. Matt Bromirskyj gave excellent support with 45, and Jahan Mohammed contributed 24. Raby Castle mounted a spirited chase but were held to 212 for eight, finishing 11 runs short. James Cox, Louis Morris, Sophie White and John Bewell each claimed two wickets. Richmondshire took the full 20 points to Raby Castle’s eight.
