By DAVID COULTER

Published at 09:11, Monday, 02 July 2012

DESPITE losing in the second last over to rivals Shotley Bridge, Tynedale remain in control at the top of the Wellstream A1 League.

On form: Tom Cant top scored and took three wickets in Tynedale’s defeat against Shotley Bridge.

Shotley’s six wicket success was wrapped up with seven balls remaining with Tyne not too far from a result despite a below average batting performance.

With the recent wet weather at Priors Flat, the game was delayed until 3pm and reduced to 35 overs apiece, but new captain Tom Cant was able to enter the toss with Shotley skipper Peter Collingwood, the brother of cricketing legend Paul.

The visitor won the toss and chose to bowl first on a used wicket.

With usual opener John Meadows running late, cup opener Jamie Crichton was given the opportunity to open and Tynedale made a slow but steady start.

While on 15 without loss, a disastrous three over spell saw the hosts collapse to 17-4 to undo the early good work.

Graeme Angus was destroyer in chief as he picked up all four wickets, bowling David Newton (8), Meadows (0) and Ben Archer (1), before having Ross Laidlaw (0) caught and bowled.

In stepped Cant to join Crichton and they slowly started to rebuild the innings as they saw off the opening attack of ex-Tynedale professional Stuart Graham and Angus.

They then attacked the change bowlers of Martin Hubber and Phil Brown, Crichton playing the supporting role for his captain to up the run rate, making 16 from one over.

Their 60 run partnership was ended, though, when Crichton hit a low full toss from Brown straight to Collingwood for a crucial 28.

James Rainford’s stay at the crease was brief as he followed Crichton back to the pavilion when bowled for nought from the next ball, Tyne slipping to 77-6.

The experienced Richard Darling joined Cant as they aimed to set a defendable total, and they knocked the ball around comfortably.

The young captain brought up his second league 50 of the season with a cut for four, before the 50 run partnership was brought to an end with Cant being run out by a direct hit from Lewis Hall.

Dorian Hiles came in and crashed his first ball for six before he was stumped two balls later!

Darling looked to up the run rate before wickets ran out but the innings ended prematurely as Liam Haney (0) and Mark Heslop (0) were both dismissed by Brown as Tynedale ended on 143, 17 short of their target.

Early wickets were crucial with Shotley possessing a long batting order, and Newton and Darling went in search of wickets while trying to keep it tight against Brown and David Anderson.

A close lbw shout against Brown off Newton was as near as Tynedale came to an early success though as the batsmen settled in.

Change bowlers Cant and Laidlaw kept it tight apart from the odd bad ball that was punished well by the batters.

Eventually, Tyne made the breakthrough as Laidlaw dismissed Anderson for 42, caught by Darling to leave Shotley 76-1.

Shotley overseas player Daniel Rees joined Brown but didn’t last long as, after edging Cant for four, he was then bowled by the off spinner for four to bring Graham to the crease.

The returning talent went on the attack instantly, driving Laidlaw for four and hitting Cant for six.

With the win slipping away, Tyne looked to take wickets for bonus points and they got two more wickets in the space of two balls. Cant dismissed Brown lbw for a patient 33 and Hall first ball for nought.

With Shotley requiring 33 to win, Tynedale had a slight glimmer of hope but the experience of Graham (37no) and Collingwood (10no) saw Bridge home with seven balls remaining.

Table topping Tynedale welcome Percy Main tomorrow as the halfway mark of a rain ravaged season approaches.

l Tynedale continue to live up to their tag of cup kings as they made the final of the Wellstream League Cup.

They have a perfect nine from nine record and are still in six cups this year, and took a large step to retaining their crown by defeating Morpeth in a last over semi final thriller.

Bowling first, they kept Morpeth to 109-7 off their 20 overs, Darling picking up three wickets, Meadows two, Laidlaw and Cant one each.

In reply, after the early loss of Crichton (5), Tyne were cruising at 50-1 with Cant and Meadows going well. A collapse of three wickets for two runs saw Meadows (22), Laidlaw (1) and Rainford (0) dismissed, but Darling and Cant moved the score to 82 before the former was bowled for 13.

With four balls left, Tynedale needed four to win and young Archer found the crucial boundary to finish on six not out and Cant 52 not out.

They entertain Sacriston on July 15 looking to make it back to back league cups.

l With two games to go, Tynedale U15 sit second in the league and have a cup semi final to come.

A rain ravaged season has wrecked the U13 League but Tyne remain top and also have a cup semi final to look forward to.

Completing the successful campaign to date, U11 remain unbeaten and have moved into the cup quarter finals.

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