ACADEMY SUFFER FIRST DEFEAT AT HETTON LYONS

9th Aug 2023

 NEPL Sunday Division 1: 6^th July 2023: SNCC v Hetton Lyons (a) 40/40

Hetton Lyons 203-7 (40o) Dan Walker 83, Ethan Dixon 78: Josephine Nkomo 2-26, Albie McPate 0-12, Gregor Pearce 0-47, Will Young 0-48, George McConnell 0-26, Jacques Graham 4-33.

SNCC 153-8 (40o) Angus Southern 15, Charlie Wilson 22, Jacob McCord 12, Jan Ozmen 61*, Geroge McConnell 10: Grace Denley 1-30, Hayden Fenwick 2-31, Owen Hayton 1-15, Alex Birbeck 2-10, Dan Walker 0-28, Lilly-Mai Taylor 1-21, Peter Denley 0-13.

Hetton Lyons won by 50 runs- 19 points, SNCC 6.

A first defeat for the Academy at sunny Lillywhite Terrace was based on a Lyons outstanding second wicket partnership of 154 between Dan Walker (83) & Ethan Dixon (78) which ended at 172, one bad ball per over too many by comparison to the subsequent Lyons attack, & a SN chase which lost wickets at key points & then only managed to score 52 in the 20 overs between 11 & 30, albeit against decent bowling, leaving the task of scoring 106 from the 10 remaining overs too demanding. 

The Lyons elected to bat. The short boundary was towards the fence on the scorebox side. Birbeck & Walker faced the right arm seam of Nkomo & McPate. A good opening 10 overs from Josephine (5-1-18-1) & Albie (5-2-12-0) in which Birbeck (9) was caught low at first slip by Angus at 18 off Josephine in the 7^th & only 2 x 4 scored, 30 -1 after 10 overs.

Gregor's first went for 10 to the short boundary, 64-1 in the 17^th & despite George's economical opening 3 overs, at half way drinks, the Lyons were 87-1 with Walker (38*​) & Dixon (31*) well set, 5x4 + 3x6 scored. 

The third quarter proved pivotal as 82 runs(4x6 + 4x4) were amassed & the score had risen to 169 after 30 overs. A change of pace saw the slow left arm of Jacques Graham bowl 6 overs for 33 & take 4 wickets on debut, highly commendable given the form of the batters. At 172 Walker (83, 105 b,7x4,4x6) advanced but was stumped by w/k Charlie Wilson off Jacques.

6 runs later Hayton (3) was caught at cover by Josephine also off Jacques & at 195 Holmes (7) was lbw to Josephine. At 198 Dixon (78,82b,4x4,3x6) was runout by Gregor going for two. At the same score Fenwick (0) edged Jacques behind where Charlie took the catch, & at 202 Taylor (0) was bowled by Jacques, Grace Denley (2*), 203-7 at the close, 18 extras (9b,3lb,6w).

Having scored 230 against the same opposition in the home win the chase was not impossible; 80-2 at drinks was the target. A good opening 10 overs saw the Bulls at 45-1 despite Angus (15) mistiming a drive to mid off at 37, 6x4 in this period.

The next 10 overs saw 3 maidens, 3 wickets & only 27 runs scored as Charlie (22, 30b 4x4) was unluckily adjudged lbw at 53 off Fenwick & Birbeck's off spin accounted for Jacob (12) at 63 & Will Carr (0) at 64, both bowled through the gate, so 72-4 at halfway & behind the rate, 4x4 in this spell.

The third 10 over set proved pivotal in that only 25 were scored as shots hit fielders & strike rotation was becalmed. Birbeck bowled 3 overs for 4, including one maiden, Hayton's medium pace 2 for 5, including the wicket of George (10, 26b,1x4) at 81 in the 25^th & after 30 overs the score was 97-5, Jan 13*.

Jacques (9) was sent back & run out in the 31^st at 98, 6 down & although 56 were scored off the last 10, it was all too late to challenge the Lyons total. The field was spread & boundary hitting became difficult, 1x6 3x4 in the last 10 overs. Gregor (5) advanced to Taylor & was stumped by Sean Birbeck at 117. Josephine (8) was bowled by Grace Denley at 138 in the 39th & only a last over of 13 to Jan got the Bulls over the 150 mark, Jan ended 61* (83b,4x4,1x6) holding the innings together but finding it difficult to accelerate when needed.

Three Academy games to go & some improvement areas to focus on. Bowling more consistently on one side of the wicket to enable a field to be set to minimise boundaries; seeking to be more positive in putting pressure on the bowlers & finding a way to rotate the strike, deflecting into space & taking singles even when faced by decent bowling. Such pressure usually causes more variation in the bowling & more scoring/boundary opportunities.

We can do this !! Onward! 8 points ahead of Hetton Lyons with three games to go, albeit others (Gateshead Fell & CLS) have games in hand.

Sun 13^th Aug SNCC v Philadelphia (h),

Sun 20^th Aug SNCC v Chester-le-Street (h)

Sun 3^rd  Sept SNCC v Sunderland (h), all 1330 starts, 40/40. 

We hope you can be there to cheer them on.

Duncan.