Whilst England have won the Ashes with three Durham players involved and Durham CCC are closing in on back to back County Championships after their demolition of Warwickshire, South Northumberland CC returned to a clean sweep over the weekend.
On Saturday the first team demolished Benwell Hill by nine wickets at the Bullring. Electing to bat “The Hill” were immediately in trouble as Stephen Humble (5-23) and Craig Smith (2-23) blew the top order away and with Lee Crozier (3-33) completing the job Benwell Hill succumbed to 112 all out.
In reply South Northumberland lost John Graham for 19 but Adam Heather (40*) continued his rich vein of form with Chris Hewison (38*) helping to complete the victory with no further scares to record a 30 point victory. Unfortunately Norton succumbed to Chester le Street giving the league leaders a full 30 points tally as well.
The second eleven also completed a full 30 point victory away to Benwell Hill although they suffered a few more batting scares before Adam Critchley (23*) and John Hammill (29*) put on an undefeated half century stand taking South Northumberland from 60-5 through to 114-5.
Earlier on Benwell Hill had won the toss and elected to bat and after a good start succumbed to the spin of Michael Smalley (5-15) and Chris Campbell (3-21) as they were dismissed for 110. When South Northumberland batted both Sam Jobson (20) and Tom Seymour (16) got starts but neither was able to go on against some good pace bowling from Benwell Hill’s opening attack. However Critchley and Hammill calmed any nerves as South Northumberland seconds claimed top spot after leaders Chester le Street surprisingly lost to Norton by one wicket. With a game in hand and a six point lead the seconds now need to hold their nerve and try to build a big lead before the final match show down against the Cestrians in three weeks time.
At Matfen Hall the Saturday third team continue to put pressure on leaders Prudhoe – at one point last week the league website had Prudhoe losing ten points but this had later been rectified – as they beat Wark by 142 runs gaining 12 points. Batting first South Northumberland amassed 199-7 from their 42 overs with Intisaar fazal (49), Adam Pearson (35*), Chris Goodfellow (26), Xavier Taylor (25) and Tristan Mears White (24) all making useful contributions.
In reply Allan Davidson (3-14) reduced Wark to 9-3 and with new ball partner Chris Goodfellow (3-22) effectively snubbed out any chance of a Wark victory as the visitors crumbled to 57 all out. Whilst Prudhoe started the day one point ahead at the top of the table the West Tyne League second division title will go all the way to the wire in next weeks final round of matches.
On Sunday the third team completed a comfortable 72 run victory over local rivals Newcastle. Batting first South Northumberland’s innings started well as Jack Jessop (24) and Xavier Taylor (19) established a solid foundation before Sam Jobson (47) set about the bowling. However after their dismissals there was a mid-innings collapse as two very slow spinners mesmerised the batsmen and it was only Intisaar Fazal’s 71 from 36 balls that rescued the day as a score of 195 all out was posted.
Newcastle were gifted ten overs as South Northumberland only used 35 of their 45 overs, and so in reply they had 55 overs to chase 196 for victory. After a good start, Newcastle faltered and from 80-1 lost constant wickets as they were rolled for 123 with Jo Knox, Adam Pearson and Andrew Doig all taking three wickets apiece.
Last Thursday South Northumberland CC’s juniors added another trophy to their collection after winning the under 13’s Premier League Cup at Stockton. Having beaten Newcastle by nine wickets in the first match, they comfortably turned over hosts Stockton by 16 runs in the final. Throughout the two matches the South Northumberland team only lost four wickets whilst taking 15 whilst batsman Jack Hearn picked up the Player of the Tournament award for recording retired thirties in both matches.