Phillips strikes dramatically

Published on 8th May 2008 in Letters

Middleton 125-9

Newport 1st X1 127

Newport continued their good start to the season with a thrilling two-run win at Middleton.

Batting first, Newport struggled to come to terms with a slow pitch. Mark Ogram went early, skying a catch to mid off and Danny Smith after a good start also perished to a catch at mid off when 22.

Richie Harrison and Carl Wilson took the score close to 100 but when Wilson was bowled by Hullah for 23 and Harrison lbw to Musgrove for a top score of 33, the Newport innings fell away, with only Matthew Phillips reaching double figures. Newport were all out for 127 in the last over. For Middleton, Hullah took 3-39 and Ullyatt 3-13.

Middleton had by far the better of the pitch. They lost two early wickets - Newlove caught behind off Wilson for 11 and Ullyatt dismissed in a similar fashion off Andy Harrison for three.

However, Wilson and Nesfield took Middleton to 69 before Mark Phillips bowled Wilson for 29. A brilliant direct hit to the bowlers' end from point by Danny Smith ran out McKee for sixtriggered a spectacular collapse by Middleton.

Nesfield was stumped by Mark Ogram off Richie Harrison for 45. At 123-5 after 38 overs, Middleton were still odds on to win but Mark Phillips' three wicket maiden in the 39th over swung the game to Newport and the last two batsmen could only manage a single from the final over from Harrison so Newport won by two runs. Phillips finished with 5-32.

Newport 2nd XI 38

South Cave 164-8

Newport began their campaign at home to South Cave and can only get better after a poor performance saw them defeated heavily by 126 runs.

South Cave scored freely for the first ten overs, but Randal Yates picked up two wickets.

Davies and Little added 97 for the third wicket until Davies was bowled by Paul Tough for five.

In the meantime Little, although incapacitated with a hamstring injury and batting with a runner, was well past his half century.

Newport did well to slow the scoring in the second half of the innings and John Exley collected 2-28 and Yates 3- 39. Carl Morfitt had Little caught for 92 in the last over and South Cave closed on 164-8.

Newport made a positive start against some wayward bowling and had reached 34-1, with Paul Tough bowled off his legs by Barmby for four.

However, Newport suddenly and spectacularly collapsed to 38 all out. Randal Yates (3) and Steve Clarke (11) both played on, but then batsmen four to nine were all dismissed without scoring, mostly bowled attempting inappropriate shots, as the innings ended in only 14 overs. Barmby took 7 - 15 and Gorbutt 2-20.

This Saturday, the firsts entertain Old Hymerians whilst the seconds travel to Hutton Cranswick.