Durham Cricket Academy recorded a win in the Durham Senior League Protech Cup beating South Shields by 24 runs after a sublime century by Freddie Fallows.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Robbie Bowman and Charlie Coulthard opened up for the clubs young guns looking to set the tone early on. Coulthard unfortunately fell for just three, bringing Freddie Fallows to the crease at 9-1.
Fallows immediately took charge as he and Bowman put on 163 for their 2nd wicket partnership. Bowman fell for 37 as Fallows was on 99*, and swiftly moved to three figures striking 17 fours and two sixes in an immense show of power hitting.
Fallows fell for exactly 100 to Oliver Appleby as South Shields aimed to restrict Durham scoring heaving during the death overs. Maxwell Jackson fell for five and Jack Brassell for 12 off six deliveries as Durham Academy finished their innings on 199-5.
Durham Academy got off to a brilliant start with the ball, Jackson finding the edge of Sameer Awan first ball of the innings and Coulthard taking a simple catch. Brassel then picked up another quick wicket, bowling Barton William-Powlett for 7 to leave South Shields 15-2.
Tharusha Fernando and Nasar Hussain put together a 50 partnership before the latter was stumped by Robbie Bowman off the bowling of Zac Maudsley to leave South Shields 67-3. Fernando and Jack Hutchinson added another 50 partnership as they looked to chase down their target.
Durham’s bowlers did well to keep the run rate in check, and George Fairbairn picked up his first wicket by removing Hutchinson for 18, Charlie Scorer with the catch. Fernando repelled the attack, and made his way to 100 hitting nine fours and six sixes as he tried his best to lead Shields to an unlikely victory.
However, with Durham regularly starving him of support they were able to close in on victory, and when Brassell bowled Joshua Leslie for 9, it enabled them to secure the victory despite Fernando’s 105*.