Last updated at 15:22, Monday, 05 October 2009

Tynedale stand-in skipper Mark Armstrong was looking to captain his side to their second victory in seven days on Saturday, after the previous week's triumph over Benwell and Walbottle.

He lost the toss and was asked to field first by Percy Main in the sunny conditions near Tynemouth.

Without any fast bowlers at his disposal, Armstrong decided to use an all-spin attack to begin with.

The Percy Main pro Ali and opener Tweed got off to a good start, putting on a 26 run stand at the beginning of the innings, including two boundaries each.

Tynedale knew they would have to take some early wickets and they got one, with Tweed going for 12, caught by Neil Clark off Liam Pringle's bowling.

Then came the best play of the match. Clarke came into join Ali at the crease, and they batted together for a partnership worth 180 runs.

Tynedale tried hard to claim a wicket but failed to do so until Clarke fell for an incredible 87 in the 46th over.

Clarke hit 10 boundaries and one six in an excellent innings for the home side.

He was caught behind by Crichton off Ben Lloyd's bowling with the score at 206-2.

Shinde came to the crease, with his strike partner having just reached his century.

Ali batted tremendously well to give Percy Main a huge target for the Prior’s Flat boys to chase.

He fell without adding to his 100 runs, which included 12 boundaries.

He was finally caught by teenager Ben Archer in the deep mid wicket, off Pringle's bowling.

Shinde and Phillips were now at the crease, having had over an hour and a half's wait to get on the field.

They tried to play out the rest of the innings, but Phillips went for 10, stumped by Crichton to give Pringle a third wicket.

Sidney-Wilmot came in to bat and saw out the rest of the innings with Shinde.

Shinde finished not out on 14 and Sidney-Wilmot finished not out on 4.

Percy Main totalled 234 runs for the loss of just four wickets in their 50 overs.

Tynedale's best bowler was Liam Pringle who took 3-64, to take his tally to over 40 league wickets for the season.

Tynedale started with Neil Clark and Joe Barber at the crease, and they got off to a good start with Clark hitting a four off the first delivery, and Barber hit another before the end of the over.

Barber fell in the fourth over, caught by Tweed off Butler's bowling for nine with the score on 19-1.

Pro Barry Stewart came to the crease and put on a good 37 run partnership, with Clark hitting three fours and a six during the partnership.

Then the wicket of Clark fell for 35, caught by Ali off Shinde's bowling.

Rainford came to the crease, but not long after Stewart was heading back with 15 runs to his name after being given out lbw off Walker's bowling.

Tynedale next put in Gary Hunter and at 68-3 they needed to up the run rate.

The two batsmen were going well, putting on 32 more runs before Rainford fell for 23 stumped by Lindley for Walker's second wicket of the innings.

Keeper Crichton came in and fell after just six more runs were scored for a duck, caught behind by Lindley to give Walker a third.

Tynedale were starting to collapse and it only got worse when new batsmen Ben Lloyd went for nine with the score at 116-6.

He was also stumped by Lindley off the same bowler, but he did achieve two good boundaries.

Then it was the turn of Ben Archer to make a name for himself, but he could only manage three runs before being run out with the score at 120-7.

While all this was going on, Hunter was creating a good innings of 39, and Pringle came in to see the later stages of this.

Hunter and Pringle put on the best partnership of the innings, but it was all in vain, however, as Tynedale ran out of time.

Hunter lost his wicket for 39 runs, caught by Smith off Shinde, and captain Armstrong came in to see out the innings.

Pringle finished not out on 11, Armstrong not out four, as Tynedale achieved a still good 163-8 at the end of the 50 allotted overs.

The best bowler was Walker with 4-28, while Tynedale’s top marksmen was Hunter with 39.

On the day, Tynedale were desperately missing the presence of skipper Darling and others such as young bowler Keady, and couldn’t achieve the high total set for them as a result.

First published at 09:47, Friday, 14 August 2009
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk