ACADEMY BATTLE TO OVERCOME THE HILL

20th May 2024

NEPL Sunday First Division:19^th May 2024: SNCC v Benwell Hill (h)

SNCC 179-4 (40o) Jan Ozmen 49, George Gray 63, Ben Sidney-Wilmot 17*: Darshana Thiranga 1-17, Ben Robinson 0-14, Warren Poxon 1-23, Aaron Armstrong 0-30, Safiun Diip 1-27, Fergus Wallace 0-41.

Benwell Hill 153ao (37.5o) Warren Poxon 44, Sarwar Kabir 24, Safiun Diip 16, Fergus Wallace 22, Darshana Thiranga 19: Finlay Pearce 3-24, Will Young 2-34, Joe Dresser 1-28, Gregor Pearce 1-25, George Gray 2-22, Jacques Graham 0-16.

SNCC won by 26 runs - 25 points, Benwell Hill 10.

A  lot of good things about this hard fought win by the Academy. George Gray's first 50 for SNCC, his partnership of 124 with Jan for the third wicket, 7 maiden overs, important wickets & spells for Finlay, Gregor, Joe, George, Jacques & Will, slowing the scoring rate between overs 21-30 & then taking 5 wickets in the last 6 overs bowled, alert fielding inducing one run out & athletic w/kg from Ben especially standing up, with 3 victims & no byes.

The Bulls won the toss & chose to bat. The day was cool & overcast. Tris Meears-White & Jacob McCord faced the seam of Thiranga & Robinson. After 4 overs Tris tweaked a hamstring & retired not out (13*). In over 7 Jacob (5) edged behind off Thiranga, 20-1,

Will Carr (1) was bowled by Poxon in the 13th, 33-2. Enter George Gray who batted with intent from ball 1. 67-2 at half way Jan 17* George 20*. Of the 52 scored in overs 21-30 George hit 31 & there were 12 extras. Driving through cover point, extra cover, over mid wicket & glancing Diip's quicker one to fine leg, the pair ran well, George reaching his maiden SNCC 50 in the 28^th over.

123-3 after 30 overs became 159 in the 37^th when George (63,78b,8x4) was caught by Poxon on the mid wicket boundary. Jan 48* was joined by Ben Sid & in a bid to up the rate, he was unlucky to be run out in the 38^th for 49 (100b 3x4). Ben & Jacques scampered & the innings closed on 179 -4 after 40 overs, Ben 17* Jacques 1*; not quite a par score.

Shad & Poxon faced the left arm seam of Finlay Pearce (Grove) & right arm of Will Young (Park). 0-1 after two balls as Shad (0) was palpably lbw to Finlay. New batter Kabir seemed a tad fortunate not to depart in same fashion two balls later. Two successive maidens to begin the innings. Then, driving strongly, Poxon & Kabir took the score to 44 after 8 overs.

Joe Dresser's first over, the 9th, was a timely maiden. In the next Gregor's leg breaks enticed Kabir to charge & a miss for Ben Sid to complete a neat stumping, 44-2. Poxon played freely, punishing anything too full or short & had reached 44 when Joe bowled him with a cracker that, after a delay, just dislodged the off bail, Poxon 44 (55b, 9x4,1x6) an important wicket. 74-3 after 15 overs, 24 ahead of the SN total at the same stage.

93-3 at drinks after 5 over spells from Gregor & Joe. George & Jacques began impressive spells & in the 23^rd a mix up saw George's throw from cover to w/k Ben defeat Diip's (16) attempt to get back to his crease,103-4.

Only 16 runs in 6 overs & at 124 Wallace (22) was smartly stumped by Ben Sid off George, 124-5. The rate slowed again as Finlay returned & George continued. Tharanga (19) had showed intent but at 134 he swung & was bowled by Finlay, 134-6.

This became 135-7 in the next as Robinson (1) was bowled by George & at the same score in Finlay's next, Liam Hynd (3) steered to mid wicket where brother Gregor took  a neat catch. Will Young & Joe Dresser returned & it was Will who enticed Matt Hynd (9) to sky an intended pull for Ben to take the catch before in his next, the 38th, he yorked Armstrong (2), 153 all out.

A good win against an always obdurate opponent who seemed on top in the chase only to succumb to some good bowling & fielding. SNCC now in second place in the NEPL Sunday First Division on 62 points behind leaders Sacriston on 78.

Onward to Sun 2^nd June;  SNCC Academy v Gateshead Fell (h)

We hope you can be there to cheer them on.

Duncan.