A famous week for Richmondshire’s 1st XI, who beat Middlesbrough CC twice in the space of two days, first in the league and then in a nerve-shredding Kerridge Cup semi-final, to book a place in the final and continue a superb run of form.
The weekend began at Acklam Park in the league, where Richmondshire were set 104 to win after bowling Middlesbrough out for 103. Having won the toss and elected to bat, the home side never really got going against a disciplined Richmondshire attack, with Josh Dowson striking early and Harvey Websdale chipping in with two wickets of his own, but it was Lalith Mohan Akkaraju who did the bulk of the damage, taking six for 19 from 13.4 overs, five maidens among them, as Middlesbrough’s innings never got going.
In reply, Michael Layfield’s patient 30 laid the foundation before an unbeaten 44 from Rob Carr, back from Dublin, steered Richmondshire home by 5 wickets with overs to spare in a chase that was rarely in doubt once the early damage had been done.
There was no time to dwell on that victory, with Middlesbrough returning to Hurgill Road on Sunday for the Kerridge Cup semi-final, and this time it went right down to the wire in front of a good crowd. Batting first, Richmondshire were given a platform by Shafiqullah Ghafari’s brisk 29 off just 24 balls, before Rob Carr (40) and Owen Kelly, whose 58 was the top score of the innings, added the substance in the middle overs and gave the innings some real substance. A late flurry of wickets, four of them to the impressive Harry Williams, saw Richmondshire bowled out for 191 in their 40 overs, a total that looked competitive without being overwhelming against a Middlesbrough side capable of chasing it down.
Middlesbrough responded well, with James Lowe’s 43 and useful contributions from Ankar Malik (25), Leo Kitson (36) and Sam Gaudie (28) keeping them in touch throughout a tense middle period.
Lalith Mohan Akkaraju struck twice early to remove Rhys Ditta and Ahsan Shrindal, with further wickets for Josh Dowson and Caleb Bradford. With five overs remaining Middlesbrough needed just 20 more with three wickets in hand.
In an inspired bowling change Max Percival was introduced to the attack. Tearing down the hill and bowling with real pace he produeced a late burst that proved decisive. Percival took 3 for 6 in just 1.3 overs at the death, removing Sam Gaudie, Abdaar Ishaq and Faizan Hussain in the space of a few balls to snuff out the chase at exactly the moment it looked like it might get away from Richmondshire. Middlesbrough were bowled out for 183, eight runs short.
Richmondshire will now play Barnard Castle in the final.
AROUND THE CLUB
The 2nd XI were beaten by 60 runs at home to Norton CC, Durham in Division 1. Having asked the visitors to bat, Richmondshire could not prevent a total of 191 for 7 being posted, with M Symington (38) and O Jenkins (39) the main contributors, despite three wickets apiece from S Wood and J Percival. In reply, Jamie Stead’s 37 and a late 28 from Jake Percival gave the innings some substance, but Richmondshire were bowled out for 131, with T Minto taking four wickets for the visitors.
On Sunday It was a big day for the 3rd XI, who made it a miserable weekend for Middlesbrough CC by beating their 3rd XI by 6 wickets at Acklam Park. Chasing 185 for victory, John Clark produced a magnificent 83 from 84 balls, studded with six fours and five sixes, and found good support from Jordan Forbes (39) as Richmondshire cruised home with wickets in hand. Isaac Bottomley’s three wickets, including two in the space of four balls, had earlier played a key role in restricting Middlesbrough to 184 for 9.
The 4th XI also picked up a win, beating Marske CC’s 2nd XI by 7 wickets at Richmond School. Lewis Pybus took four wickets as Marske were bowled out for 136, before Phil Stephenson’s unbeaten 46 guided Richmondshire home in the chase.
The best individual performance of the week, however, came from the 5th XI, who thrashed Catterick Village CC by 247 runs in Darlington and District League action. Tom Stockton, playing his first game of the season, struck a magnificent 117 from just 65 balls before following up with figures of five for 6 from four overs as Catterick Village were bowled out for just 44 in reply to Richmondshire’s 291 for 6.
