For the first time since 1997, our 2nd X1 tasted league title success!!
2021 was the year that the 1st X1 excelled in winning the league and Eric Topham Trophy, as well as pushing all the way in various cup competitions. However 2022 has very much been a great year for the 2nd X1. They finished the season with an impressive 506 points from their 20 games, meaning that they had the best points per game ratio (25.3) out of any team in the 8 divisions of the N&TCL, a fantastic achievement! They won 16 of their games, lost 3 and had one abandoned for rain.
There have been many impressive performances among the team, who have benefitted from a much improved attitude toward availability for games which saw consistent team selections week in, week out. Jamie Bradley finished 4th in the league standings for runs having amassed 496 runs at 41.33 with five half centuries. The returning Dan O'Sullivan made 12th with 357 and the evergreen Ste Gray in 16th with 329.
Three of our bowlers featured in the top 10, with five making the top 20. Ewan McCabe lead the way as he finished joint leading wicket taker with 37 alongside Naveed Nawaz from Cowgate. Ewan bagged his wickets at 15.59 with a best of 6/27. Also in the top ten was Nathan Smith in 6th place with 29 at 14.55 and Jack Marshall in 10th with 26 at 16.12. Notable mentions to Ste Turnbull and John Stokoe for their contributions too!
A great season for the team which also saw them lose a last ball thriller in the league cup semi-final, lose the final in the finals day of the David Greener memorial (note this was the day after they won the league so draw your own conclusions) and bow out in the quarter-final of the Hedworth Williamson Bowl to a very strong NEPL outfit in Gateshead Fell.
In cups (at time of writing, the James Bell Final had not yet been played), players have again excelled. Ryan O'Neill leading the way with 274 runs, Jamie in there again with 256 and Ste Turnbull showing his all round prowess with 189 runs to go with his 15 wickets. Ewan again was out in front with 22 cup wickets, Jack coming in second with 18 and the aforementioned Ste in third. Again, excellent efforts to field strong sides in cup ties have been a major factor in the successful cup runs of the team and has ensured that they have all kept themselves in good form throughout the season.
Congratulations to Saturday captain Andrew Ray and cup captain Jack Marshall for what has been an excellent season, and a massive pat on the back to all of the players who have taken part. Thanks to everyone who has came along and supported the lads throughout and we hope that they can fit into life in Division 4 seamlessly now that they play the exact same rules as the 1st X1 next season.