Merlin uses wizardry

The Merlin had nine wickets to spare defeating Boosbeck when Graham Sutherland (41no) and Mark Cauldwell with an unbeaten 28 figures in an unbroken second wicket partnership of 28, steering the side to victory in 26.1 overs.

When Boosbeck batted first they used 41.5 overs making 97 all out as Geoff Burdon took two for 10 from no fewer than 14.5 overs, ten of which were maidens. Keith Moss gave good support with three for 32 from 13 overs.

Paragonians were all out for 80 but then dismissed Dormans for 75 as Hughes collected fife wickets for 33 runs and Skilbeck five for 39.

Ramzan with five for 37 and Noor (3-17) were the bowlers who caused Paragonians their problems.

Despite scoring 160 for five Jack Hatfield's lost by five wickets to Ormesby Hall. Spence (77) and Pierce (32) gave the Jack Hatfield's innings a splendid send off and for Ormesby Hall Thorpe contributed 43 and Trotter carried his bat for 57 was victory was achieved for the loss of five wickets.

Staithes won by ten wickets at Normanby Parklands when Theaker made just 18 of the opening partnership of 120. Extras accounted for 24 while Allen completely dominated the innings ending unbeaten with 76 not out.

Batting first Normanby Parklands totalled 119 including 40 by Ramzan and for Staithes Sayers returned four for 41 and Brown took three for 35.

After totalling 201 for six and declaring Skelton Castle were held to a draw at Norton who were 108 for six at stumps including 26 by Sills and 23 not out from Watson.

Batting first Skelton Castle were indebted to Manners (30), Himsworth (42), Gratten (40) and top scorer Hogarth who added 62.

Hinderwell comfortably saw off the challenge from Loftus when they bowled out their opponents for 66. Theaker took six wickets for 49 runs and Swain had four for 22, this after Hinderwell totalled 162 all out including 42 by Duell and 35 from Theaker. Whitwell with four for 46 and Morrison (3-53) were the pick of the Loftus attack.

In division two Loftus reached 176 for six before declaring at Skelton Castle who were all out for 51.

Pearson (45) and Codling (54no) were the principal contributors for Skelton Castle and Tony McCabe claimed five wickets for 57 runs in 14 overs.

Responding Skelton Castle made 51 with Terry Shaw taking four for 26 from 12 overs and Chris Morrison four for 17 in nine overs.

In the only other game played in division two there was victory for Moorsholm at Cowpen Bewley. Required to score 82 Moorsholm lost six wickets and were grateful for a contribution of 29 by Lowe as Carr, Clayton and Manners shared the six wickets.

When Cowpen Bewley batted first they found Allison in superb form with the ball for Moorsholm and he took eight wickets for 46 runs reducing the home team to 81 all out.

Roseberry Group North East Durham League

Newton Aycliffe hosted Plawsworth and after sending their opponents back with 129 runs on the board went on to win by seven wickets. Karl Wheeler opened the innings and scored 52 and Stephen Bell made 40 before being run out.

Earlier Mike Fletcher top scored with 66 in the Plawsworth innings and for Newton Aycliffe Alan Mitchie claimed five wickets for 25 runs in 11.3 overs.

Belford House overtook the Medomsley total of 128 with five wickets in tact. Clinton remained unbeaten on 39 and Gary Pickering scored 30 while for Medomsley Dixon took three of the five wickets to go down for 51 runs.

Pickering also performed well with the ball in the Belford House attack taking five for 58 and Elves had three for 40. M Dixon top scored with 37 for Medomsley and both G Dixon and T Richardson scored 25.

Washington had 100 runs to spare over Coxhoe after posting 163 all out which included 29 by John Tither, 31 from Mitchell and 30 by McIllvaney.

Bloomfield performed well for Coxhoe returning six for 35, but when the home side replied by were all out for 63 with Wilkie claiming five for 28.

Wearmouth ended on 132 and defeated Coundon by 17 runs. Hardy and Ramrattan both took two wickets for Coundon and for Wearmouth Murphy and Stronach shared six wickets.

Hospitals managed 99 at Benwell Hill but still won by 31 runs. Archbold, with six for 32 and Phil Haves (3-40) were the bowlers who caused Hospitals most of their problems, but when Benwell Hill replied they managed only 58 as Shaw took four for 11.

East Rainton totalled 128 at Littletown for whom Bede and Strong claimed nine wickets between them. When Littletown batted they were all out for 52 with Fleming taking three for five and Richardson three for 29.

In Division Two North Bitchburn finished three-wicket winners over Tantobie who were all out in 44.3 overs with 112 runs on top. Will Hogarth top scored with 48 including two sixes and three boundaries and for North Bitchburn Graham Lee had a hat-trick in six for 47 from no fewer than 22 overs, five of which were maidens. Andrew Morgan gave good support returning three for 24 in 6.3 overs.

Responding North Bitchburn were grateful to Graham Dalton whose 41 including one six and five fours. Victory was achieved in 34 overs despite Jimmy Cook taking three for 30 in ten overs and Danny Bellamy three for 17 from seven overs for Tantobie.

Washington had 97 runs to spare defeating Whiteleas. Batting first Washington finished with 168 as Fallon carried his bat for 60 after Guy had scored 34. Sowden with five for 57 and Baxter (5-88) shared the honours for Whiteleas who were then dismissed for 71 including 36 by Peterson. Bowes and Brown both took four wickets for Washington.

East Rainton lost by two wickets at home to Simonside whose match winners with the bat were Costello (49) and Wastell (30). Man of the match, however, was Simonside's Thompson who took nine wickets for 59 runs reducing East Rainton to 123 of which Iley contributed 64.

Belmont had 51 runs in hand of Wearmouth after posting 141 for eight which included scores of 39 by Cope, 30 by Welsh and 30 from Thompson, while for Wearmouth Stores was the most productive bowler with three for 34.

When Wearmouth went into bat they were all out for 90 as Welsh claimed three for 24 and Peacock took five for 34.

Kibblesworth finished two wickets winners over Burnhope with Wilson scoring 38 out of a total of 109 for eight. Laws (4-30) and Sparks (4-34) shared the wickets and when Burnhope made first use of the wicket they were all out for 108 as Dent took five for 57 and Wilson three for 46.

Langbaurgh League

Stafford Place posted a useful 194 in 35 overs before bowling out Thimbleby for 57 runs in 29 overs. David Metcalfe had no fewer than ten boundaries in 53 and Brent Smith also made a half-century hitting a couple of sixes and seven fours while for Thimbleby Andy Ward took four wickets for 40 runs in eight overs.

Responding Thimbleby were soon in difficulties once Mally Graves was introduced into the attack and in nine overs, four of which were maidens, he returned the magnificent figures of six for 14.

Swainby defeated Chopgate by just one run. Max Cook, Neil Stockton and Mark Lane shared the ten wickets when Swainby were dismissed in 22 overs with only 86 runs on the board.

In the event, the modest total proved sufficient but not before an exciting finale in which Chopgate were dismissed for 85 including 31 by Richard Holmes, with four boundaries.

Alan Clemmit had figures of four for 34 from no fewer than 20 overs and Glen Shimwell captured three for 13 from five overs.

Crathorne made the big total of 222 for six at Hutton Rudby with Mooney scoring 76, Marshall 71 and Pattison 31. In reply Hutton Rudby went for victory before finishing with 170 for nine. Green (31), Smith (30) and Cook with a late unbeaten 47, were the principal scorer. Leng claimed three wickets for 51 runs and Blench four for 35 in the Hutton Rudby attack.

Kildale managed 115 all out with Cochrane scoring 34 against Kirby Sigston for whom Clarkson had the outstanding figures of seven for 49.

When they responded Kirby Sigston won by four wickets mainly due to the efforts of opener Thompson with 27 and his partner Lowther, who carried his bat for 42. Doughty claimed three of the six wickets for 20 runs.

East Harlsey had several wickets to spare when they overtook the Scruton total of 94 for seven. Hunter top scored with 31 and Hill carried his bat for 22 in the visitors' innings.

Batting first Scruton struggled to 94 for seven including a top scoring 23 not out by Greensitt and for East Harlsey Mould took four wickets for 44 runs.

Great Broughton made only 44 with Covell returning five for 22 at Maltby who won for the loss of three wickets, all of them falling to Bladen for 23 runs.

In Monday's programme Great Broughton defeated Ingleby Greenhow by eight wickets. Bladen gave another good performance with the ball capturing five for 28 and Brown scored 37 as Ingleby Greenhow were all out for 98. Bladen then starred with the bat remaining unbeaten on 31 and Lewis contributed 39.

Kildale reached the massive total of 266 for five as the runs flowed from M Pierson (93), Blackett (74), Doughty (44) and J Pierson (40). Greensitt took four of the five wickets to go down for 71 runs and in reply Scruton were all out for 116. Peacock scored 34 and Blackett claimed four wickets for just seven runs.

Crathorne ended with 172 for seven defeating Stafford Place who were all out for 128. Patterson (60) and Payne (36) were the main contributors and for Stafford Place Smith had three wickets for 46 runs. Smith then top scored with 55 but when Blench returned five for 40 and Leng three for 40, Stafford Place fell well short.

Cleary (43) and Garbutt (56) led Thimbleby to 192. Stockton, Cook and Vout shared the ten wickets before Chopgate were all out for 137 including useful scores of 56 by Holmes and 35 from Lane. Garbutt completed a good game by taking five wickets for 37 and Allen returned three for 58.

East Harlsey were also in good batting form and totalled 214 for six against Hutton Rudby. Hodgson (84) and Mason (41) led the way and for Hutton Rudby Coombes was the most successive bowler with three for 64. In reply Hutton Rudby could make only 60 as Bellamy returned four for six and Grange three for 14.