1864'S UNDONE ON A GREEN WICKET AT WYLAM BUT STAY FOURTH IN WTL DIV 1

20th Aug 2023

                    Sat 19^th August 2023: WTL Div 1: SNCC v Wylam (a) 40/40

Wylam 127-8 (40o) Neil Wells 33, Anthony Porter 21, Tom Barnett 19, Rory Young 27*: Gregor Pearce 0-9, Jack Netts 0-14, David Cragg 1-28, Patrick Hatcher 3-23, Will Young 1-12, Jaques Graham 1-21, Belinda Wewalage 0-13.

SNCC 84-9 (40o) Aryan Wagh 28, Jan Ozmen 9, Rory Cartmell 18, Will Young 9*: Rory Young 3-21, Rob Howarth 2-18, Tom Barnett 3-3, Marcus Wells 0-19, Anthony Porter 0-12, Chris Harrison 1-7.

Wylam won by 43 runs 19 points, SNCC 5.

Given the rain in recent days it was inevitable that the wicket & the outfield would be grassy, that crease occupation would be a test, bowling a consistent length a benefit & so it proved. Wylam were invited to bat. Patrick had the usual August holiday scramble to assemble a team, U 15 Rory Cartmell made his debut & performed most creditably.

Howarth & Wells faced the seam of Nkomo & Netts. Howarth (3) succumbed when Jack got his fingers to a Wells drive on follow through & deflected it onto the bowlers stumps for the non striker to be unluckily run out. Josephine's consistent line & length was again evident.

Progress was steady & at drinks after 20 overs the score was 60-1; a missed run out chance & a dropped catch hampered the attack. Gregor bowled his 8 overs for 9 & had several near misses. Wells (33) charged David Cragg & was stumped by Aryan. Porter (21) was run out after a smart piece of fielding by Will Carr retreating & throwing accurately to the bowler's stumps from deepish mid off.

Wilson (6) was bowled by a Will Young yorker. Will's 6 overs for only 12 were a tribute to the consistent, nagging length required on this wicket. Mark Wilson  (1) edged behind to w/k Aryan off Patrick. Japes (1) succumbed to Patrick's in swinging yorker. Harrison hit Jacques high to mid off where Will Carr retreated & caught assuredly. Barnett (19) pushed singles until he fell lbw to Patrick & Rory Young swung merrily to mid wicket (27*), 12 extras in the final total of 127-8.

The importance of batting time was emphasised as Aryan & Belinda faced the experienced seam of R Young & off spin of Howarth. It seemed that the home side's best chance was to bowl out their most experienced attack to seek wickets on a familiar surface. They took 5 wickets between them.

Aryan started strongly but Belinda (2) was bowled by Howarth. Aryan (28, 5x4) a most positive innings, was bowled by Young. Will Carr (2) drove Young to Porter at extra cover. Jaques Graham (1), aiming to drive, succeeded only in lobbing back to Young to be c & b. Jan (9) was caught by Webb at short mid wicket off Barnett's slow medium.

Gregor (4) was bowled by Howarth but Rory Cartmell, on debut, batted effectively. Patrick's (0) leading edge lobbed back to Barnett, Jack (0) was bowled by Barnett. Rory (18) finally succumbed to Harrison's off spin & Will Young (9*) & David Cragg (4*) saw out the 40 overs preserving 5 points.

So the 1864's retain 4^th place in Division 1 on 207 points. A top four finish is the aim, Newton (a-26/8), Belsay (h-2/9), Haltwhistle (a-9/9) & Hexham Leazes (h-16/9) to come. Let us be available & continue to support them to achieve their highest possible placing. Onward !!

Duncan.