Last updated at 10:01, Friday, 11 September 2009

Ponteland Second XI continued their strong finish to the season with their third consecutive victory, albeit by the narrowest of margins in a thrilling encounter against Cowgate.

Speedy finish: Nick Speed was the first Tynedale Harrier home in the club’s Jelly Tea road race from Hexham to Ovingham.

The rain during the week in the build-up to the match meant that the game was in doubt right up until the start time.

Dry weather on Saturday morning meant the pitch was damp but playable and play started on time.

After losing the toss, Ponteland were unsurprisingly asked to bat on the green wicket and found it tough going early on as the pace of the pitch meant many batsmen got underneath their shots, ballooning them in the air.

Howard Wright was caught at mid on, while skipper Chris Morgan, Keith Crerar and Jimmy Ottaway all fell victim to catches as Pont struggled to 52-4 from 16 overs.

Peter Nesbitt and Alex McLean then set about restoring the innings and put together a fine partnership of 59 for the fifth wicket.

Nesbitt hit some beautiful cover drives in his 22 while McLean played to his strengths, punishing the short pitched bowling with some aggressive pull shots.

At 111-4 with 10 overs remaining, Pont looked set for a reasonable total but a lower order batting collapse ensued, as they fell to 120-9 just five overs later, with McLean and Nesbitt both back in the hutch.

It was up to Matt Smart and John Hill to drag the score up to 134 all out before Hill was run out in the final over. Despite the collapse, the total was always going to be competitive in bowler friendly conditions and Pont were aided by Cowgate dropping a staggering 12 catches in total.

In reply, it was the hosts that started the stronger as Cowgate collapsed to a similar position as Pont had done, as they limped to 57-5 from 15 overs.

Wayne Denham and John Hill both produced tight opening spells while Ashley Parker claimed the vital wicket of Vikram Ali who had just taken Hill out of the attack after hitting 16 from one over.

Cowgate then set about launching a counter attack as they increased the run rate, putting on 44 for the loss of no wickets in the following 10 overs.

As ever, the batsmen were going for their shots as Richard Crawford and Izhar put the visitors in control at 101-5.

The aggressive nature of the Cowgate batting meant they were always likely to play the odd loose shot and Crawford and Izhar soon departed, closely followed by Latif and skipper Amrit Crawford as Andy Denyer and Howard Wright took control of the lower order.

At 116-9, the game looked all over, but suddenly it changed in extraordinary circumstances as Asif Ali launched a blistering counter attack.

He hit Wright for a huge six over the sports centre roof before following suit against Denyer to leave the visitors just two away from victory.

With more then 10 overs left to secure the win, Ali then inexplicably went for the glory shot again, but failed to spot Denyer’s quicker ball and missed it to be bowled for 22 as Pont edged home by one solitary run.

First published at 09:49, Friday, 11 September 2009
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk