NE Premier League: Four-wicket Waterson tames table-topping Lyons as Whitburn maintain superb start to the season

Whitburn kept up their magnificent, unbeaten start to climb to third place by beating morning leaders Hetton Lyons by three wickets.
Hetton Lyons batsman Ben Whitehead misses out against Whitburn on Saturday. Picture by Tim RichardsonHetton Lyons batsman Ben Whitehead misses out against Whitburn on Saturday. Picture by Tim Richardson
Hetton Lyons batsman Ben Whitehead misses out against Whitburn on Saturday. Picture by Tim Richardson

Lyons were dramatically dismissed for 96 in 33 overs, with only opener Stuart Walker (25, with four boundaries, off 50 balls) and Robert Talbot (a breezy run-a-ball 30, with seven fours) managing into double figures.

Kieran Waterson was outstanding for Whitburn, snatching 4-13 in a devastating nine-over spell, including the final wicket of Cameron Grimwood, backed by Matthew Muchall (3-17) and Craig Smith (2-36).

Whitburn bowler Craig Smith powers in at Hetton Lyons on Saturday. Picture by Tim RichardsonWhitburn bowler Craig Smith powers in at Hetton Lyons on Saturday. Picture by Tim Richardson
Whitburn bowler Craig Smith powers in at Hetton Lyons on Saturday. Picture by Tim Richardson
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The Villagers secured victory after 32.2 overs, with seven wickets falling.

Lee Henderson had five fours in a 65-ball 26 to top-score, backed by Chris McBride (13) and Ross Carty (24, with three fours, off 26 balls).

Jonny Malkin took 2-7 and Ben Whitehead 2-22 for Lyons, with Chris Ralston, Talbot and Jack Burnham also striking.

Chester-le-Street won their first ever league derby against Sacriston, cruising to a 112-run success.

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Sacriston won the toss and elected to field, but Chester took advantage, putting on 90 for the first wicket, 76 for the fourth and declaring on 235-4 after 54 overs.

Openers Kyle Davis (51, with eight fours, off 72 balls) and George Harrison (44, with four fours and three sixes, off 61) set the tone, backed by Jacob McCann’s 99-ball 72, which featured eight fours and two sixes.

Captain John Coxon weighed in with 34, while Graeme Bridge took 2-74.

Sacriston slipped to 6-2 and 15-4 before rallying, thanks to Melvyn Betts (24, with four boundaries) and Jack Hardy (45, with four fours and three sixes).

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Graeme Hubber and Graeme Wrightson each made 13, but the end came in the 42nd over as Sacriston were back in the pavilion for 123.

Stephen Cantwell led the way for the Cestrian bowlers, plundering 4-15 in 7.1 overs, while Liam Burgess took 3-18. Quentin Hughes, Andrew Smith and Durham’s Chris Rushworth (1-22 in 10 overs) also struck.

Bottom club Eppleton stopped the rot after four defeats to open the season, but they had to settle for a ‘winning draw’ against Durham Academy in an unbearably tight finish after a match featuring more than 500 runs.

The Church Road men chose to bat and put on a fine total of 257-8 declared.

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Josjh Coughlin, batting at six, stole the show with eight fours and two sixes in an unbeaten 78, off 83 balls, while Marcus Brown had four fours and two sixes in 44 and Joe Coyne hit five fours and a six in 47.

Dean Musther added a valuable 26, with three fours and a six, while Luke Henderson made 18 and Dan Stephenson 15.

Faizan Hussain bagged 3-49 for the Academy, while Max Williamson took 2-46 and Adam Ahmed 2-35.

Two of the Academy’s top four fell for ducks, but Ross Greenwell (42, with eight fours) and Sol Bell (56, with 11 boundaries) put on 95 for the second wicket and they were in the game all the way.

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Harry Adair hit nine fours in a 100-ball 79 and Tom Down had five fours and a six in 46. They were 242-5 but lost four wickets cheaply and, in a dramatic finale, claimed the draw, finishing on 255-9 after 55 overs, three short of victory.

The game still had all three options on the table going into the last over, a win for either side or a draw.

Connor Whitelock starred with the ball, taking 5-62, backed by Craig Scurr (2-62) and Coughlin (1-28).

Tynemouth found conditions at Felling’s High Heworth Lane to their liking as they romped home by 101 runs.

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Tynemouth were 3-2, but Durham’s Mike Jones blasted 16 fours and three sixes in a 120-ball 102 to help the visitors to declare on 193-9 after 42.5 overs.

Sean Longstaff added 34, with Paul Leonard the pick of the bowlers, grabbing 4-72. Dale Shaw took 2-46.

Felling struggled from the off and slipped to 28-5 before falling to 92 all out, with Josh Eaton top-scoring on 34, with seven fours, off 65 balls. Chris Goudie made 14 and Shaw 11, but the bowlers held sway, with Wesley Bedja taking 3-23, Longstaff 2-6 and David Hymers 2-17.

Benwell Hill were crushing 94-run winners at Stockton after declaring on 270-2 in 50 overs.

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Jacques Snyman maintained his fine form with a 74-ball 104 not out, with seven fours and three sixes, supported by Phil Nicholson (36), James Schofield (49) and Kyle Coetzer (51no).

Tom Hewison (29), Joe Hewison (60) and Jamie Harrison (40) did their best for Stockton, but the Tynesiders secured victory in the 42nd over as the hosts were dismissed for 176.

Mohammed Shinwari snaffled 3-31, with Gavin Main, Snyman and Coetzer all striking twice.

South Northumberland were big derby winners against Newcastle, triumphing by 97 runs.

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The champions declared on 247-8 after 54 overs, led by Durham’s Liam Trevaskis, who hit six fours and two sixes in a 118-ball 77. Simon Birtwisle added 30, Sean Tindale 31 and Richard Stanyon 32 not out, with five fours and a six.

Oliver McGee bagged 4-57 for Newcastle, who responded with 150 all out in 35.4 overs. Ben McGee had five fours and a six in 44, off 107 balls, and Jacques Du Toit hit nine fours and two sixes in a swift 42-ball 63.

Jonny Wightman stole the show with a brilliant, match-winning haul of 5-26.