Hartlepool well beaten by Barnard Castle

Castle batted first and posted a magnificent score of 313-7 as they opted not to take a chance of Pool knocking their score off, by declining to declare. The tactic proved the correct decision as Pool never got close to their opponents’ imposing total.

Castle made 52 before the first wicket fell, but then lost a further two quick wickets to leave themselves at 87-3, with the top three of Karl Turner, Lchlan Pfeffer and Simon Tennant all dismissed.

That was to be the last bright point though for Pool, as the hosts then took the score to 287 before the next wicket fell.

Both James Quinn and Richard Borrowdale made centuries as the Pool bowlers were made to toil.

Callum Prosser, Chris Harrison, Jonathan Carson, Phil Mustard and David Seymour were all expensive.

Dale Metcalfe was once again the pick of the bowlers, returning figures of 3-60 from his 15 overs.

Pool’s fielding was again not at its best, with a number of chances being put down by the West Park outfit.

Had these chances been taken, and further rotation of the bowlers throughout the day, their total to chase may have been rather less.

Despite the high score to chase, Pool did go into the second half knowing that they knocked 250 off the previous week and had eight overs to spare.

Another inspiring innings could have seen Pool victorious, although on this occasion it seemed unlikely.

Pool choked to 11-2, effectively ruling out any chance they had of victory.

Phil Mustard attempted to get things moving, before his afternoon was cut short after an unconvincing lbw appeal.

He was one of four given from one end, something which Pool had felt had not gone their way.

James Finch showed his class taking six wickets, including three of the lbws.

Dave Seymour and Alan Tebbett both made good starts before becoming victims of the umpire’s twitchy finger.

Tebbett played a mature innings and was last man to fall as players fell around him, eventually being dismissed for 41 from 57 balls.

Some good bowling coupled with some poor shot selections did not help Pool’s cause, which eventually ended at 131 all out.

Barnard Castle: Turner b Metcalfe 28, Tennant c Seymour b Metcalfe 29, Pfeffer lbw Metcalfe 4, Quinn c Watson b Seymour 109, Borrowdale c Harriosn b Prosser 106, Hutchinson b Seymour 10, Bousfield c Seymour b Prosser 6, Merryweather not out 0, Robinson not out 0. Extras 21. Total for 7 wickets 313.

Bowling: Prosser 2-51, Stabler 0-58, Metcalfe 3-60, Carson 0-46, Harrison 0-26, Mustard 0-38, Seymour 2-17

Hartlepool: Coverdale lbw Robinson 3, Watson b Bousfield 8, Mustard lbw Finch 20, Seymour lbw Finch 30, Tebbett lbw Finch 41, Stabler b Tennant 10, Piper c Bousfield b Finch 0, Metcalfe b Finch 1, Prosser c Pfeffer b Tennant 0, Carson c Bousfield b Finch 6, Harrison not out 1. Extras 11. Total all out 131

Bowling: Bousfield 1-16, Robinson 1-30, Finch 6-46, Tennant 2-32