ACADEMY BATTLE & THEN ARE SAVED BY THE RAIN AT CHESTER-LE-STREET.

6th Aug 2024

               ACADEMY BATTLE & THEN ARE SAVED BY THE RAIN AT CHESTER-LE-STREET.

                           NEPL Sunday First Division: 4^th August 2024.

                                   SNCC v Chester-Le-Street (a) 40/40.

Chester-Le-Street 234-9 (40o) Luke Allen 34, Liam Colledge 74, Sam Robson 47, Brett Eagle 15, Charlie Armstrong 15*: Varun Gudipati 3-43, Will Young 2-30, Albie McPate 1-41, Missy Banks 1-42, Jacques Graham 0-35, George McConnell 1-31.

SNCC Academy 146-8 (29.1o) Angus Southern 26, Jacob McCord 29, George McConnell 20, Missy Banks 23*, Varun Gudipati 13*: Josh Davie 0-21, Liam Cook 0-22, Liam Colledge 0-9, Brett Eagle 2-9, Josh Metcalfe 4-12, Sam Robson 1-39, Harry Simpson 1-24.

Incomplete win- Chester-le Street 22 points, SNCC 12.

The Cestrians won the toss & chose to bat. The sun shone, Allen & Colledge faced the right arm seam of Gudipati & Young. Only  3 from the first three overs but acceleration from both batsmen saw the total rise to 58 after 9 overs.

Albie McPate & Missy Banks entered the attack & in Missy's second over Luke Allen (34, 32b, 4x4,1x6) was bowled, 86-1. Despite a maiden for Albie in over 18 there was no more success, 127-1 at 20 over drinks, Colledge & Robson going nicely.

Jacques Graham's variable length was punished but George McConnell bowled Colledge (74, 83b,9x4, 2x6) full & straight in the 24th, 149-2. At 178 in over 29, four wickets fell in 4 overs. Robson (47, 40b, 3x4 3x6) was caught by Albie as the ball swirled high at square leg off Varun. Two balls later Cook (0) played on to Varun. In the 30^th Harry Simpson (9) was run out when Albie prevented a second run with a throw to w/k Will Carr,181-5.

Henderson (5) was caught by Albie at square leg off Varun at 185 in the 31st. George bowled a nice spell & Missy reentered the attack in over 33; Will Young in over 36 in which he took two wickets. Eagle (15) drove firmly to cover where Angus parried & caught & Rodger (0) was caught by Albie at point, 210-8.

23 runs came off the last 4 overs as Metcalfe (13) swung until he too was caught by Angus above his head at cover off Albie. 3 from the last & a total of 234-9. Challenging !

SNCC had an equally impressive start as Angus & Jacob put on 54 for the first wicket in 8 overs of seam from Davie, Cook & Colledge. Angus driving through the offside & Jacob hitting to leg & driving straight, However, the experienced seam of Eagle & off spin of Metcalfe bowled the next 12 overs, took 6 wickets for 21 runs & turned the game.

Jacob (29,40b, 4x4) was caught at mid off by Robson off Metcalfe at 63 in the10th. In the next Angus (26,36b, 4x4) was bowled by Eagle. One over later Will Carr (0) going back, was bowled by Metcalfe, 64-3. At 69 in the 16^th Jan (3) was adjudged lbw to Metcalfe from around the wicket. Did it pitch outside leg stump ? At 74 in the 19^th Ben Sid was yorked by Eagle, 5 down & 3 runs later Jacques (3) stretching forward to Metcalfe in defence but on the line was stumped.

A bowling change saw Robson (ob) & Simpson (lb) introduced & in Robson's first over Albie (6) was bowled playing back, 84-7. George McConnell (20, 33b 3x4) was watchful but hit 3 good boundaries through cover, to mid wicket & square leg, until he drove Simpson to Colledge at cover at 108, 8 down.

Missy & Varun then batted well resisting the spin attack & hitting some good shots in an undefeated partnership of 38 until the rain came after 29.1 overs curtailing the game; Missy 23* (31b, 4x4) stroking to point, guiding to third man & through cover & Varun 13* (9b,2x4) driving straight & through point; 146-8 included 23 extras.

Some good bits but clearly some things to work on. Let us finish strongly please !!

Third place in Sunday First Division with two games to go. Next Sun 11^th August SNCC Academy v Hetton Lyons (h) 1330 40/40. The Lyons are current league leaders

We hope you can be there to cheer the team on. 

The last fixture is the rearranged game against Gateshead Fell on Sun 25^th August (h) 1330 start, 40/40.

Duncan.