Richmondshire continued their excellent early-season form with a hat-trick of wins across the week — in the league, in the MacMillan Cup and in the Kerridge Cup — to underline their credentials as genuine contenders on all fronts.
1st XI — NYSD ECB Premier Division
Richmondshire made it back-to-back Premier Division wins on Saturday, defeating Hartlepool CC by 88 runs at Hartlepool Cricket Club to claim 25 points. With most fixtures across the league postponed as clubs marked Middlesbrough’s appearance in the Championship play-off final, only Richmondshire and Barnard Castle were in Premier Division action.
Hartlepool won the toss and elected to field. Gary Pratt anchored Richmondshire’s innings superbly, making 112 from 165 balls — his first century of the season — sharing a second-wicket stand of 165 with captain Dan Hodgson, who contributed 47. Shafiqullah Ghafari made a brisk 29 from 22 balls, and late hitting from Joe White and Owen Kelly helped Richmondshire close on 242 for four.
Luke Symington (52) joined by Wilf La Fontaine Jackson (38) in a half century third wicket stand that lifted the hosts to 120-2. The pairs’ dismissals seemed to mark the end of any winning ambitions as Hartlepool played for a draw.
That seemed the likely outcome when, with 17 balls remaining and the score 154-5. Lalith Mohan then produced an outstanding spell, taking six for 31 from 13.2 overs. A hat-trick, all lbw in the 48th over then in the first two balls of the final over claimed the last two wickets
Shafii returned one for 27 from 13 overs and Sam Wood, Max Percival and Caleb Bradford all contributed a wicket.
The win keeps Richmondshire second in the table with 114 points, seven behind leaders Barnard Castle, who also took 25 points on the day.
MacMillan Cup — Thursday 21 May
Richmondshire gained a measure of revenge on Thursday evening, defeating Saltburn CC by four wickets in the first round of the MacMillan Cup at Hurgill Road — the same opponents who had beaten them in the opening league fixture of the season.
Saltburn were restricted to 92 for six, Sam Parry’s unbeaten 35 the only significant innings as Harvey Websdale and Max Percival each took two wickets. The chase looked uncertain with wickets falling regularly. Stepping up in the absence of Mike Layfield and Shafi it was Jake Percival’s 31 from 23 balls shifted the momentum decisively and Isaac Bottomley’s unbeaten 24 saw Richmondshire home with 14 balls to spare.
Kerridge Cup — Monday 25 May
Richmondshire advanced in the Kerridge Cup with a four-run victory over Marske CC at Marske Cricket Club in Round 2 of the 40-over competition. After their 165 run partnership on Saturday both Gary Pratt and Dan Hodgson were out cheaply. Shafi made 32 from 21 and Joe White provided the backbone of the innings with 49 as Richmondshire posted 140 from 27.1 overs. A total that looked competitive but by no means certain to be enough.
Marske made a fast start and were well placed through the middle overs, Akhtar’s unbeaten 39 giving them hope to the last. But Sam Wood took four wickets and Lalith Akkaraju three as Richmondshire’s bowlers held their nerve, and Marske fell four runs short, dismissed for 136 in 27.3 overs.
Around the Club
2nd XI & 4th XI — Both matches were postponed in line with the league’s decision to allow clubs to observe Middlesbrough’s Championship play-off final.
3rd XI — The 3rd XI went down by two wickets in a close contest away at Wolviston in the NYSD Sunday Premier. Isaac Bottomley top-scored with 68 and J Mohammed contributed 29 as Richmondshire posted 146, but it proved just short. Wolviston’s N Khan made short work of the chase with a rapid 71 from 52 balls, and despite Ralph Hoskyns-Abrahall taking three wickets as the hosts wobbled late on, Wolviston reached their target with two wickets to spare.
5th XI — The 5th XI fell to a seven-wicket defeat at home against Middleton St George CC 2nd XI in the Darlington & District League. Mike White top-scored with 85 from 128 balls and Jonny Walker added an unbeaten 47 as Richmondshire posted 191 for six, but Middleton reached their target with relative ease in 36.5 overs.
