SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 2008

ALNWICK (125 all out) lost to Whickham (152 all out) by 27 runs

ALNWICK are starring relegation in the face after a 27-run defeat to Whickham.

Defeat against the Gateshead outfit has left Alnwick – said to be the second-oldest provincial club in England with a proven continuous history – perilously close to the drop, hovering just five points and one place above basement side Seaton Burn.

It will take a concerted team effort to amass as many points as possible to stop the Division A2 axe crashing down on the north Northumberland side.

And once again, having got themselves into a winning position, Alnwick crumbled, dragging themselves further into the relegation mire.

The soft conditions meant the start was delayed until 3pm and the match was reduced to 35 overs per side.

Alnwick won the toss and put the visitors into bat. It appeared to be the right decision. After the openers had reached 22, five wickets fell for just 17 runs. Bateman, Wright and Frater (3) all striking.

The visitors battled back thanks to a 58-run partnership between McIntyre and Scott before McIntyre was caught on 17.

Two more wickets fell cheaply but the visitors then managed to add to their tally; a stand of 29 between Thornber and Scott took Whickham past 150.

The innings finally closed on 152. The return of Bateman removed Thornber and McGregor.

And Alnwick made an encouraging start with the bat. Brewis and Richard Peberdy added 55 before Brewis was caught for 35 in the 17th over. Peberdy followed two runs later.

Ausaf Ali and Wright took the hosts past 100 but the return of professional Parr sealed Alnwick's fate, removing Mattewson and Stewart with the score on 106.

More trouble was in store. Wright was run out in his attempt to move the score along quickly, and he was followed by Bateman and Will Peberdy.

Alnwick were all out for 125, 27-runs short of Whickham's total. The visitors were inspired by an impressive display from Parr, the hitman grabbing figures of 3-6 off 10 overs.

SCORECARD

Whickham

S Davidson c & b Wright 15
M Parr c Matthewson b Bateman 16
J Pearce c Brewis b Frater 3
M Armstrong c Brewis b Frater 0
D Scott not out 67
C Morton b Frater 2
I McIntyre c Stewart b Ausaf Ali 17
C Goldsmith c Wright b Robertson 5
A Robinson st JRP Peberdy b Stewart 3
R Thornber b Bateman 14
A McGregor c JRP Peberdy b Bateman 0

Extras 10
Total (all out) 152

Bowling: GJ Bateman 8-2-18-3; JA Frater 10-1-31-3; D Wright 5-0-22-1; Ausaf Ali 6-0-35-1; T Robertson 2-0-22-1; A Stewart 3-0-16-1.

Alnwick

M Brewis c Parr b McIntyre 35
JRP Peberdy b Robinson 13
Ausaf Ali c Davidson b McIntyre 16
D Wright run out 30
P Matthewson b Parr 6
A Stewart b Parr 0
JA Frater b Thornber 9
GJ Bateman b Parr 1
WB Peberdy c McIntyre b Thornber 1
T Robertson not out 1
J Guy run out 0

Extras 13
Total (all out) 125

Bowling: R Thornber 7.3-0-35-2; M Parr 10-6-6-3; I McIntyre 10-0-46-2; A Robinson 7-0-32-1.

Whickham won by 27 runs.
Whickham 20pts, Alnwick 7pts.