Durham Cricket League: Pearson's brilliant ton inspires Littletown success, while Billyard drives Hylton to fine victory

Littletown secured their eighth win of the season, defeating visitors Dawdon by six wickets to leapfrog them into fourth place in Division Two on Saturday.
Dawdon batsman Jamie Greenwood takes on Littletown bowler Calvin Stephenson on Saturday. Picture by Kevin BradyDawdon batsman Jamie Greenwood takes on Littletown bowler Calvin Stephenson on Saturday. Picture by Kevin Brady
Dawdon batsman Jamie Greenwood takes on Littletown bowler Calvin Stephenson on Saturday. Picture by Kevin Brady

Dawdon looked good when they declared on 201-5 in 41.3 overs, but it was not to be enough.

Steven Gale (66, with 14 fours, off 87 balls) and Jamie Greenwood (81no off 113, with 15 boundaries) put on 101 for the first Dawdon wicket.

Dawdon batsman Nathan Newton bats at Littletown on Saturday. Picture by Kevin BradyDawdon batsman Nathan Newton bats at Littletown on Saturday. Picture by Kevin Brady
Dawdon batsman Nathan Newton bats at Littletown on Saturday. Picture by Kevin Brady
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Alan Anderson added 23 off 17 balls before the declaration came, with Jack Weeks taking all five wickets to fall, for the cost of 53 runs.

Littletown looked in big trouble at 13-3, but Dan Pearson’s outstanding 111 off 110 balls, featuring 16 fours and three sixes, turned it around. He put on 187 for the fourth wicket to take the hosts within two runs of victory, alongside Jordan Woodley, who had 10 fours in 63 not out.

Mark Ewart took 2-42 in vain.

Hylton welcomed Langley Park to the Billy Hardy Complex and picked up a fine victory after bowling the visitors out for just 104.

Robin Hiles, with 30, and Simon Huscroft (24) were Langley’s only scorers of note, as Faisal Hussain picked up an excellent haul of 5-42.

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Hylton lost four wickets in chasing the runs down, but opener Matty Billyard coasted to 71 not out to ensure victory in their total of 105-4.David Craig starred with bat and ball as Ryhope eased to a seven-wicket home victory over battling Hunwick, who posted a daunting 224 all out in 50 overs.

Chris Pratt (56, with eight fours and a six) and Dan Keegan (32) put on 85 for the first wicket, before Iain Steward added 44, with three fours and four sixes, and Jack Mensforth 34, also with four maximums.

Craig was the pick of Ryhope’s attack, plundering 4-45, while James Summerside grabbed 3-30 and Liam Stores took 2-67.

Craig then fired 12 fours and four sixes in a 123-ball 120 not out to lead Ryhope to victory in the 41st over. He put on 93 for the first wicket with Dan Blackman (51 off 52 balls, with eight fours and a six), with Mathew Kirby adding 27.

Silksworth succumbed by 31 runs to visitors Boldon CA.

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The home bowlers did well and restricted Boldon to 171-9 declared in 37 overs, as Mark Cox made 42, Thomas Jubb 67 and Rajan Kumarasamy 18.

Mark Forster snatched 3-41 for Silksworth, supported by Gary McCoy (2-42), Michael Waterson (2-22) and Greg Davison (2-52).

Silksworth, though, struggled with the bat and were dismissed for 130 in 42.5 overs. Opener Andy Barrass made 22 before Craig Ritchie fired 59 at No 7 and Davidson added 28 not out.

Shanaz Halaldeen took 4-44 for Boldon, backed by Kumarasamy’s 3-23.

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Promotion-seeking Ushaw Moor outgunned lowly Peterlee by 37 runs.

Moor made 164 all out, batting first, led by Stephen Hancock (41), Peter Maddison (31) and Mark Messer (28) after a tricky start. Kieran Buck stole the show with a magnificent bowling performance for the home side, snaffling 6-41 in 11.5 overs, while Shrey Bhatt took 2-27.

Peterlee, though, could not capitalise on their attack’s success, as they fell for 127 all out in 43 overs. Paul Griffith top-scored with 37 down the order, helped by two fours and four sixes, backed by David Jones (21) and Mike Thorpe (19).

Scott Nattrass (3-25) and Dean Storey (3-18) led Moor’s bowlers, supported by Hancock (2-17) and Messer (2-28).

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Evenwood are second, some 28 points behind leaders Ushaw Moor.

They batted first at Murton and totalled 205-9, with openers Owen Peddelty (49) and Dominic Wilkinson (59) procuding a good start, while Aiden Vout took an excellent haul of 5-62 and Sam Sanderson returned 3-32.

Lowly Murton, though, capitulated to 55 all out in their reply, as Shahid Khan (6-24) and Mohammed Shoaib (4-21) bowled brilliantly to win the match by 150 runs.