ACADEMY DEFEAT PHILI WITH RECORD CHASE -   CHARLIE WILSON HITS MAGNIFICENT 135

15th Aug 2023

13^th Aug 2023: NEPL Sunday First Division: SNCC v Philadelphia (h) 40/40

Philadelphia 261-5 (40o) Chris Malley 92, Logan Barton 42, JD Caris 21, Gary Embleton 57*, Liam Marriott 15, Craig Galley 19: Simon West 0-42, Albie McPate 0-61, Jen McDowell 1-30, Gregor Pearce 0-47, Jacques Graham 1-32, Will Alexander 2-40.

SNCC 262-5 (38.3o) Charlie Wilson 135, Angus Southern 62, Jan Ozmen 10, Will Alexander 10, Tris Meears-White 10, Gregor Pearce 17*, Ben Sidney- Wilmot 1*: Gary Embleton 2-33, Charlie Sim 0-48, Elliott Turnbull 0-26, Logan Barton 1-36, Pieter Grosvenor 0-45, JD Caris 0-34, Jon Lavery 2-38.

SNCC Academy won by 5 wickets -17 points, Philadelphia 7.

On a sunny day in Gosforth, the Bulls Academy X1 pulled off an outstanding, record 40 over chase against Philadelphia in a high scoring game at Roseworth Terrace. The visitors won the toss & chose to bat. Chris Malley & Logan Barton faced the seam of Simon West & Albie McPate. 

An opening West maiden was the calm before the storm. 18 runs from 5 overs but 54 off 10. Albie suffered through the leg side & Jen took over from the Grove in over 8. The openers ran well putting pressure on the fielders in the ring. Simon's first 5 overs for only 15. In over 12 Simon could not quite cling on to an overhead chance at square leg as Barton lofted off Jen.

Jen suffered again in over 16 as Albie's usually reliable hands failed to take a skied chance at long on off Malley, then on 47. In over 19,  Malley, driving in the air to mid off, was in luck again as Charlie inexplicably got in a tangle & the chance went begging. 97-0 at drinks after 20 overs, Malley 50*, Barton 41*. Jen 6 overs for 23 most commendable, Gregor 6 for 32.

At 105 in over 21, Barton (42, 61b, 4x4,1x6) was well held by Gregor at deep mid wicket off Jacques Graham. A rain shower was fleeting & the players stayed on. Will Alexander entered the attack & bowled with control. Westy returned but was struck through mid on & mid wicket. 

In over 29 Malley's optimistic call for a single left Caris (21) with work to do & he was beaten by a direct hit from cover by Jacques, 159-2. Two overs later, Will gained an important lbw decision against Malley (92, 97b, 14x4,1x6), an exemplary innings full of decisive shots, good use of the feet & an eye for a single, 165-3.

Embleton now took on the attack &, hitting powerfully down the ground, blasted 57* (29b, 4x4,5x6) as all the bowlers suffered. At 206 in the 35^th over Marriott (15) was smartly stumped by Ben Sid off Will, but 53 more runs were added before the close, Galley (19) was caught by Gregor at long on off Jen in the 39th, Lavery ended 3*.

Charlie Wilson & Angus Southern faced the brisk seam of Embleton (Grove) & Sim (Park). After 10 overs, with one maiden, 43 dots, 7x4 1x6, the score was 42-0, two chances to mid off not taken, Charlie 21* Angus 19*; Embleton 5-1-12-0. Turnbull was unable to find a length in his only over which went for 26 & then Charlie took 6,6,4,2 off the next, so 87 at the end of the 12th.

Charlie reached 50 & the 100 came up in the 15^th over. Barton (lb) & Grosvenor (ob) joined the attack & the rate accelerated, the shortish legside boundary well within reach of Charlie's powerful strokes, (7x6). Angus also reached 50 in the 18^th & at drinks after 20 overs the total was 156-0, Charlie 82* Angus 61*. Phili were 97 at the same stage.

In over 21 Angus 62( 64b, 11x4), sweeping, was bowled by Barton. Jan joined Charlie but Embleton & Caris bowled tightly & only 1x4 & 10 runs in total were scored in the next 5 over period. 

From the first ball of Lavery's sla, Jan (10, 20b,1x4,) hit a full toss to deep square leg to be caught, 183-2. Will joined Charlie who reached a deserved 100 two balls later. So entering the last 10 overs, 74 runs were needed.

5 off the 31st & then Charlie targeted the legside in over 32 hitting 6,6,4,4 - the total 213. Embleton returned from the Park end & he & Lavery bowled the remainder. In over 36 Charlie's magnificent innings came to an end as cut Embleton hard to point where Caris held on well.

Charlie's second hundred in 4 days, the first 101 (ret no) at Chester-le-Street in the NEPL U15 Shield semi final on Thursday 10^th Aug, this one 135, (118b, 11x4, 10x6) , an outstanding display of controlled hitting, 233-3.

Tris joined Will but in the 37^th Will (10, 20b,1x4) was bowled round his legs, sweeping Lavery. Gregor hit his first ball for 4 but In the next Tris (10, 7b, 1x4) edged behind off Embleton; 249-5 with 17 balls left. Gregor had a life when a chance at mid off was not taken, but hit powerfully down the ground in the 39^th scoring consecutive boundaries & and a single to finish 17* (8b, 3x4), Ben Sid 1* to win the game with 9 balls remaining, breathless !!

Lots of good bits but also things to improve, notably the seeing & taking of singles, being seen to be busy in the field, the concentration to be alert, move/be on the move quickly into position to prevent the run or take the chance on offer; 'catches win matches' is the old, but still very true, mantra. Nonetheless, chasing a big total successfully deserves huge, team credit.

So still top of NEPL Sunday First Division on 137 points having played 12/14. Sunday 20^th August opponents are Chester-le-Street (h) 1330, (76 points, played 7/14, so 5 in hand, Gateshead Fell 123 points: 11/14 played). 

The final game is on 3^rd September v Sunderland (h) start time tbc: usually 1330, do come along & cheer  them on.