Riding Mill defeat Belsay to stay top of division one

Batting first, Omar Mahmood (30) top-scored for hosts Belsay who slumped from 120-6 to 123 all out with Michael Collins and Alan Fletcher both taking three wickets. In reply, Riding Mill were on 79-4 following the dismissal of opener Kiel Zurawlew (45) before eventually reaching their target in the 19th over after an unbroken sixth wicket stand of 38 between Andy Watson (23 not out) and Jonathan Bennett (10 not out).

Their nearest rivals Haydon Bridge won by five wickets at Humshaugh. Steven Arnup (48) and Duncan Sewell (20 not out) were the only bright spots for the hosts who collapsed from 100-6 after 25 overs to 109 all out. Dale Leadbitter (3-21 off 8 overs) and Graeme Pigg (3-9 off 3.5 overs) enjoyed most success with the ball. Haydon Bridge opener Neil Kendrew (50) and wicket-keeper Michael Cunningham (21) led the way as the 2023 champions got across the line off the first ball of the 29th over. Humshaugh's most economic bowlers were Jack Garrett (1-12 off 8 overs) and Finn Garrett-Jowsey (1-15 off 6 overs).

The other Division One matches at Wylam and Haltwhistle were both abandoned after 22 and 10 overs respectively due to heavy rain.

In Division Two, Alasdair Hall (46) and Steve Kent (40 not out) were in good form for hosts Riding Mill who scored 188-5 from their allotted 40 overs against Stocksfield with three wickets claimed by Francesco Hill. Andy Cope (30) top-scored for the visitors who were dismissed for 83 in the 29th over following good bowling from Lance Mallinson (2-12 off 8 overs), Katie Smith (2-24 off 8 overs) and Malik Umair Afzal (2-16 off 6 overs).

The midweek semi-finals of the Division One KO Cup resulted in wins for the two sides at the foot of the table, Belsay and Humshaugh. After being put in to bat by an understrength Haltwhistle side, hosts Belsay posted an impressive total of 154-6 from their 20 overs with the main contributors being Jonny Hedley (46 from 49 balls) and Nuwan Liyanage (40 from 29 balls). Haltwhistle were on the back foot after the early loss of openers Dan Heppell (0) and Archie Richardson (2) before Alfie Dodd (25) and D.Connelly (26) steadied the ship. Shane Birkett (15) did best of the lower order before they were eventually all out for 111 in the 17th over, with Belsay's opening bowlers Dan Tait (3-32) and Craig Bertram (3-25) doing most of the damage.

Following a delayed start at Humshaugh, Benwell Hill were put in to bat after losing the toss. David Ladd (28) and No.5 Ben Robinson (32 not out) were the main contributors in their total of 117-8 from the allotted 20 overs, with Finn Garrett-Jowsey (3-12 off 4 overs) the pick of Humshaugh's five bowlers. In reply, Andy Crawford (50) and Luke Parkinson (18) got the hosts off to a good start before Garrett-Jowsey (11 not out) and Steven Arnup (6 not out) steered them home with three balls to spare in fading light at 9.30pm. 

The West Tyne League KO Cup Finals take place at Tynedale Cricket Club on Sunday, July 14 with Haltwhistle and Wylam in the Division Two Final at 1.00pm followed by Belsay and Humshaugh in the Division One Final at 4.00pm.

Heavy rain resulted in the abandonment of 17 of the 24 matches across the four divisions of the North East Premier League.

In the Premier Division at Jesmond, Newcastle recovered from 42-4 to reach 215 all out against Tynedale following valuable knocks from Asher Hart (55) and No.7 Rowan Shelton (69). Archie Fletcher (5-52 off 12 overs) and Tom Cant (3-39 off 14 overs) did most of the damage before the pitch turned into a boating lake during the tea interval and the match  was abandoned.

In Division Three, Tynedale's second team moved up to second in the table at the half-way stage of the season after winning by nine wickets against their Crook counterparts at Priors Flat. Crook's decision to bat first after winning the toss didn't go to plan as they were dismissed for 85 in 28.1 overs. They were soon in trouble on 10-3, with the bulk of the runs in their modest total coming from Greg Dalton (20) and club captain Chris Elmes who had to retire after scoring 38 from 25 balls. Seth Robbie and Isaac Prentice had identical figures of 1-7 off 7 overs, while Craig Barber picked up three wickets. The hosts coasted to victory in only 13.1 overs, with Paul Scandle (25 not out) and Will Marrow (30 not out) sharing an unbroken second wicket stand of 56.

In Division One of the Northumberland and Tyneside Cricket League, Stocksfield won by eight wickets at home to Blaydon. Chasing Blaydon's total of 226 all out, Stocksfield opener Luke Doneathy's great form with the bat continued as he scored a third century in a row to take his average to 92. His knock of 122 not out from 86 balls took his runs tally to 370 in the last three games and enabled the hosts to reach their target in the 30th over.

In the top of the table clash at Ryton in Division Two, Ananth Jegadeesh (71) and Harpreet Singh Saran (46) had put visitors Matfen in a strong position on 171-4 in the 35th over when heavy rain forced proceedings to be abandoned. The two sides are now level on 236pts with ten games to play.

In Division Three, Ben Harris (100 not out) starred with the bat for Ponteland in their abandoned match at Bomarsund.

Although their match at home to Lintz was abandoned after the tea interval, Matfen's second team remain top of Division Six South with a game in hand over nearest rivals Corbridge. Matfen captain Alex Pearse won the toss and elected to bowl first. For the third time this season, Toby Pilkington took a wicket with the first ball of the innings, clean bowling the in-form Christopher Snowball, Richard Moody then scored a rapid 49 including 10 boundaries and a six, before being dismissed by Neil Spooner in the eleventh over with the score on 53. Ian Pilkington bowled a good line and length as he picked up two wickets for nineteen runs in his six over spell. 

Ryan Middlemast (21) and Simon Brown (23) added 40 for the sixth wicket before Toby Pilkington returned from the village end to break the partnership. Justin Dempsey bowled a great spell as he picked up three quick wickets, including a double wicket maiden, and the visitors' innings closed on 139-8. The teams were unable to resume after tea when heavy downpours made the ground unplayable.

Corbridge's second team recorded a seventh win of the season at home to Clara Vale to maintain their challenge for promotion. After losing the toss and being put in to bat, Katie Chomse claimed the wickets of Clara Vale openers Edmund Snape and Ian Muggeridge, while there were also two wickets for Jake Wilson and three wickets for Stewart Fairhurst as the visitors were restricted to 136-8. In reply, opener/wicket-keeper Simon Walker (33 not out), Neil Tiffin (47) and Graeme Tiffin (33 not out) were the main contributors as the hosts reached their target with eight wickets in hand and more than twelve overs to spare.

Also in Division Six South, Newcastle Super Kings' second team won by six wickets against Stocksfield's third team. Kark Beckett (52) and Chris Catnach (26) led the way for Stocksfield in their final total of 167-7 from the allotted 40 overs before opener Anil Kalidasan (89 not out) guided the visitors across the line in the 38th over.