Boldon maintain their title push
BOLDON'S push for the league title continued on Saturday with a convincing victory over Philadelphia.
Chris Ellison won the toss and elected to bat first, but progress was slow in the early part of the Boldon innings.
Ellison was the first to go, edging behind to Noble off the bowling of South African Etienne Gerber for 24.
Excellent spells from Andrew and Steven Robinson, who both bowled their full allocation of 15 overs unchanged, allowed Boldon just 55 runs from the 30 overs they shared.
Geoff Houmark (21 from 78 balls) and Nick Sampson-Barnes (28 from 101 balls) were struggling to get the ball away, and when the pair were parted in the 34th over, the score was just 78-2.
The slow scoring rate did not deter the remaining Boldon batsmen, who managed to smash 126 runs from the final 20 overs of the innings.
Geoff Sargon was the first to take on the Phili attack, hitting 22 from 17 balls, including two sixes.
He was followed by Matthew Sampson-Barnes, who compiled 21 from 18 balls before giving Connor Cheal his second wicket of the day.
The late innings onslaught continued from Sura Malinga, who bludgeoned 41 from just 21 balls to haul Boldon to 204.
His dismissal, the sixth Boldon wicket to fall, prompted the declaration from Ellison, with Shaun Bradbury stranded on 49 not out.
Philadelphia's run chase began terribly, being reduced to 27-5.
Phil Shakespeare (4-37) and Malinga (2-20) shared the first five wickets, with all of the dismissed Phili batsmen failing to make double figures.
Steven Robinson (16) helped Phili to recover slightly, to 44-6, but the introduction of Sampson-Barnes into the attack ended any Philadelphia hopes of rescuing a draw.
The 17-year-old paceman took 3-5 from four overs, with Phili slumping to 66-9.
Youngster Jonny Kennedy hit 16 from just 10 balls, but was bowled by Michael Bittlestone, to dismiss Philadelphia for just 70.
This was the fifth time this season that a dominant Boldon side have bowled out their opposition without them reaching three figures, and the result keeps them in top spot.
Boldon's first victory of the weekend came on Friday evening in the Twenty20 cup at Castle Eden. Ellison (30) and 47 not out from Andy McCord were the main contributors in Boldon's 157-5.
Castle Eden's reply began with Sampson-Barnes dismissing Keith Bailey for nought, and Dean Langridge for seven, leaving the hosts on 12-2.
A stand of 74 between John Spellman junior and Calvin Stephenson got Castle Eden close, but the wickets of Stephenson, Kirtley and Richard Ede in quick succession saw them fall just short, ending on 149-5.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Newcastle target Barnetta to quit Bayer Leverkusen
- Demba Ba insists Newcastle United contract talks ongoing
- Transfer Rumours update May 22: Sunderland, Newcastle United, Liverpool, West Ham United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham and QPR.
- Transfer Rumours May 25: Sunderland, Newcastle, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham, Arsenal
- Amalfitano flies into Toon to seal Newcastle deal
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for South Shields
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 7 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
