Middleham Build ‘Castles in the Air’ at Durham

Playing on a beautiful wicket with a quick outfield, amongst magnificent surroundings, Bishop Middleham produced a comprehensive bowling and fielding display, supported by the guile and batting power of two invited players, at Maiden Castle in Durham to ease to a 9-wicket victory over St. Cuthberts.

St Cuthberts, batting first, quickly had a mountain to climb as the pace and bounce of Wetheridges bowling led to a demolition of the top order with three wickets from his two overs. All three wickets coming courtesy of edges from the batsmen going to either keeper or fielders hands. After the first four overs the batting side were reduced to 4 runs for four wickets. The fourth wicket coming from a Davison direct hit to produce a run out. The credit for the wickets is being claimed by Josh Wilks as a master piece of field placement by him. Following this appalling start St.Cuthberts were permanently tied down at the crease and Middleham even had the luxury of having a slip fielder most of the innings. Tight wicket-to-wicket bowling with emphasis on length not only reduced St.Cuthberts run rate but also produced three wickets for Davison and one for D.Boorman. The Middleham team were quick in the outfield and also the activity of M.Boorman behind the stumps kept the opposition struggling to make runs. Only one St.Cuthbert player managed to let loose and only for one over before being bowled. The completion of the allocated 20 overs gave Middleham a target of 61 to achieve victory.

Middleham opened their innings with Hanlon and M.Boorman. Both had to negotiate a few difficult opening overs, with Hanlon always looking the most comfortable. M.Boorman, obviously out of sorts with his batting, struggled to cope with the bowling and became more frustrated as the innings progressed. This led to a number of rash strokes that eventually led to his being bowled for 8. Hanlon was joined in the middle by big hitting Wilks and they steadily got on with job of reaching the required total with Hanlon retiring not out on 26 and Wilks finishing the game off with two successive boundaries including a towering six to win the game.

Middlehams victory was as resolute as the scores suggest and they were always in control with Wetheridge identified as man of the match for his opening bowling. Closely followed by Wilks who finished the game off in a glorious fashion (no not the shorts he was wearing but his last over demolition of the bowling)

St Cuthberts Innings

Batsman	How Out	Bowler	Total
S.Rafferty	Ct M.Boorman	Wetheridge	0
A.Rafferty	Ct H.Boorman	Wetheridge	0
Eve	Ct Hanlon	Wetherdige	0
Smith	Run out		0
Patterson	Bowled	Davison	14
Gordon	Not out		13
Wilson	Bowled	Davison	16
Donaghy	Bowled	Davison	0
Morrison	Bowled	D.Boorman	4
Halliday	Not out		5
Blackburn	Did not bat
		Total	60
Middleham Bowling
Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
Wetherdge	2	0	2	3
Wilks	2	1	2	0
Connelly	4	1	19	0
Minns	3	0	5	0
Smith	2	0	4	0
Davison	4	0	11	3
D.Boorman	2	0	7	1
H.Boorman	1	0	8	0

Middleham Innings

Batsman	How Out	Bowler	Total
R.Hanlon	Not out		26
M.Boorman	Bowled	Wilson	8
J.Wilkes	Not out		20
D.Minns	Not out		0
		Total	64
St Cuthberts Bolwing
Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
S.Rafferty	4	0	12	0
Wilson	4	1	12	1
A.Rafferty	2.2	0	16	0
Donaghy	2	0	17	0
Eve	1	0	3	0