Tynemouth 2nd X1 lost to Benwell Hill by 64 runs

The Second Team suffered missed opportunities. Captain Graeme Hallam lost the toss and visitors Benwell Hill chose to bat first on a sunny but cold blustery day at Preston Avenue. Opening bowler Josh Koen got off to a great start for the season by bowling R Hanley for 3. Fellow opening bowler Matthew McDine then bowled Haxon for 6 and Tynemouth were feeling confident with the visitors on 22 for 2. Then came a pivotal point in the game when Benwell Hill opener Moore was dropped on 5. Moore went on to punish anything short and wayward from then on and reached 111 before being caught by Koen off the bowling of Gourley. Malton picked up 2 wickets and the most promising 13 year old Hamish Swaddle-Scott picked up 1 wicket but, if truth be told, missed chances and variable bowling resulted in a well above par score of 242 for 8.

In reply, Tynemouth got off to a dreadful start with Richardson and Koen back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Hallam and Lion then set about repairing the damage before Hallam fell to Jones for 24. A calamitous mix up between club stalwarts Lion and Lineham ended up with both of them stood next to each other in the middle of the wicket attempting a single. Lineham sacrificed himself with Lion going strong. Lion was joined by Davison and the pair put on 97 before Lion fell for 54. Tynemouth started to think about the draw and some resilient batting from Davison and Swaddle-Scott looked like the home side were going to achieve the draw. Unfortunately, in the last over of the game, Davison fell for 60, Hayward for 0 and with number 11 batsman Malton unable to bat due to an earlier unfortunate reaction to a hand-warmer meant Swaddle-Scott was left stranded on 19 not out and Tynemouth lost by 64 runs.