Dominant Middleham Coast to Victory at Stocksfield

Middleham took to the road today to play at Stocksfield. Arriving at the picturesque ground in the Northumberland countryside Middleham were prepared for a tough game following the events at the same fixture in 1999. At that game Middleham were comprehensively beaten.

Stocksfield won the toss and they elected to bat first. The 40 over allowed for a maximum of six overs per bowler. The first twelve overs set the standards for the game with both Davison and Ball bowling well and keeping it tight. Ball finished with four wickets for seven runs and one maiden from his allotted six overs. An outstanding performance from a bowler coming back from injury. Davison supported from the other end finishing with one wicket for 10 runs of six overs, one a wicket maiden. Former Fir Tree player Richard Hanlon and Paul Wetheridge kept up the pressure and they finished with three wickets between them from their combined 10 overs. This left Stocksfield at one stage on 37 for 7 wickets. New player, Daniel Makinde, then came on and bowled two overs for 19 runs. Having not played for a while he looked a little rusty and bowled 7 wides but his bowling also produced a wicket and one particular ball was top edged by the batsman and unfortunately resulted in a quite severe cut to his mouth. This led to the batsman retiring and captain Ron Woods graciously allowed the twelfth man to bat. His wicket was the last to fall, being bowled by Mike Connolley. Stocksfield completed their innings on a disappointing 64 all out off 25,2 overs. Praise must be given to keeper David Hutton who stopped many a ball, which went past the wicket at various heights, and his efforts saved a number of byes. The fielding was sound from the Middleham team with Phil Woods making some good stops and good throws from the long boundary. The only fielding disappointment being when Stephen Ball dropped quite a simple chance. Mike Smith spent most of his time fielding in the covers, sorry fielding on the wicket covers at long leg boundary.

Following a very pleasant tea Middleham opened with Ron Woods and Richard Hanlon and methodically they took the score along to 60 of the first fifteen overs. Woods retired himself on 23 and Phil Woods entered the fray with the look of a man who was going to hit the ball out of the ground. Unfortunately this was not the case and after playing a number of balls he was clean bowled for a duck (obviously Phil was in a giving rather than a taking mood). This led to much derision from the pavilion by his teammates. Hugh Boorman then joined Richard Hanlon and Hanlon was bowled on 23 for no further increase in the score. Harry Davison then joined Boorman and they each scored a four thus completing the winning runs.

This game was probably Middleham's best win for sometime and lets hope this rich vein of form that has maintained their 100% record continues.

Stocksfield

C.Basey	Ct Hutton	Bowled Ball	0
C. Catnach	Ct Hanlon	Bowled Ball	7
S Hodgson	Bowled Davison		2
I,Minloch	Ct P.Woods	Bowled Ball	3
A.Newton	Bowled Ball		1
M.Russell	Bowled Hanlon		15
N.Jones	Bowled Wetheridge		10
R.Weanmouth	Bowled Wetheridge		0
D.Hawes	Retired Hurt		2
R.Brown	Bowled Makinde		6
D.White	Not out		4
12^th Man (? Hinlock)	Bowled Connolley		1

Extras 10

Total 64 off 25.2 Overs

Bishop Middleham bowling

S.Ball 6-1-7-4, H.Davison 6-1-10-1, R.Hanlon 5-0-16-1, P.Wehteridge 5-1-8-2,

D.Makinde 2-0-19-1, M. Connolley 1.2-0-2-1

 Bishop Middleham

Ron Woods	Not out (retired)	23
R. Hanlon	Bowled Hinlock	26
P. Woods	Bowled Hodgson	0
H.Boorman	Not out	4
H.Davison	Not out	4
M. Smith	Did Not Bat
D.Hutton	Did Not Bat
S. Ball	Did Not Bat
D. Makinde	Did Not Bat
P. Wetheridge	Did Not Bat
M.Connolley	Did Not Bat

Extras 11

Total 68 off 17.1 Overs

Stocksfield bowling

Brown 5-1-17-0, White 6-1-24-0, Hodgson 3-0-15-1, Hinlock 4-0-10-1

Newton 0.1-0-4-0