U19s T20 champions
Saltburn Cricket Club became NatWest Blast U19 Club T20 County champions of Northumberland, Durham and NE Yorkshire on a memorable evening at the Emirates Riverside stadium in Chester-Le-Street.
The Seasiders turned in outstanding displays after qualifying as North Yorkshire & South Durham U19 champions, defeating Ryhope (Sunderland) in the semi-finals before overcoming Whickham (Newcastle) in the final played under floodlights.
The route taken by Saltburn to the county rounds was one of the longest as the NYSD have traditionally provided the highest number of entrants to the ECB competition of any league in the country. After topping the NYSD’s Southern group they progressed via a semi-final win over Blackhall to the league final at Richmondshire – a tense affair in which they eased to victory in the final over. The Seasiders then secured their place under the floodlights by easily disposing of the challenge of the Durham Cricket League champions, Ryhope. Rattling up a total of 164-6, with half centuries from Ben Ainsley and Josh Tribick, they then contained their hosts down to a score of 101-8 as Ainsley, Tribick and Lachlan Kennedy each claimed a brace of victims.
On to Chester-le-Street to tackle Whickham who had shown their abilities in seeing off the challenge of the best under 19 sides from the North East Premier League and the Northumberland & Tyneside Senior League. Floodlit cricket, the players’ names emblazoned on the electronic scoreboard, the stadium announcements and music, all combined to produce a real buzz and contribute to a memorable occasion. Things went Saltburn’s way at the toss, which has historically proved crucial in previous finals as teams batting second struggled to cope with the unique experience of batting under lights. Saltburn batted first coming out of the traps in sensational style as Ben Ainsley and skipper Sam Parry tore into the Whickham attack. Aided by some jittery fielding from their opponents, the openers raced to 91 without loss in the first ten overs.The retirement of Ainsley with another half century in the bag (42 balls, 6 fours and 1 six), and the loss of Parry immediately afterwards for 41 (29 balls, 1 four and 3 sixes) signalled a sea-change in the pace of the innings as the Whickham attack grew in confidence. Only one further batsman was to make it to double figures as eight wickets fell for just 42 runs leaving the Seasiders with a total of 137-8 to defend – much less than had been promised and certainly not defeat-proof against a side who had suggested their strength lay in their batting.
For a time it looked like Saltburn’s total would not be enough as Durham CCC second team player Alasdair Appleby and South African Josh Warner provided a rousing platform with an opening stand of 39 in double quick time. But when Appleby went for one big shot too many and was cleaned up by inspired skipper Parry, quickly followed by the run out of Warner, the tide turned in favour of the Seasiders. Some outstanding fielding, coupled with eight excellent overs from spin twins Ainsley (3-22) and Lachlan Kennedy (1-18), reduced Whickham to an all-out score of 110, the final rites fittingly administered by Parry, who ended with figures of 3-17.
Outstanding batting, bowling and fielding earned the ultimate reward for the Saltburn side. With the floodlights in full splendour at the presentation ceremony, it was a memorable closure to a wonderful evening as the players, families and supporters celebrated on the Test Match turf.