ACADEMY'S DRAMATIC 4 RUN WIN AT GATESHEAD FELL IN A TENSE FINISH

22nd May 2023

    NEPL Sunday Division 1: 21^st May 2023: SNCC v Gateshead Fell (a) 40/40  

SNCC 186-9 (40o) Angus Southern 26, Jacob McCord 44, Will Carr 17, Ben Sidney-Wilmot 44, Josephine Nkomo 13: Layton Meek 0-30, McKenzie Lugsden 1-32, Matthew Carrick, 2-31, Ravi Muthe 2-33, Harvey Wake 2-29, Oliver Clark 1-18.

Gateshead Fell 182-7 (40o) Oliver Clark 17, Harvey Wake 17, Layton Meek 57 Aidan Rutledge 25, Harry Brian 21, Richard Smith 27: Josephine Nkomo 1-21, Varun Gudipati 0-32, Jen McDowell 0-34, Will Young 1-11, Sadiq Khan 1-47, David Cragg 2-34.

SNCC won by 4 runs - 18 points, Gateshead Fell  9.

How do you summarise a tense, 4 run win?! A game full of defining moments that all contributed to a total, team effort & eventual, last over victory. The batting of Angus, Jacob, Will, Ben & Josephine to set up the total; Angus's swooping, direct hit run out; David bowling the dangerous Rutledge.

Angus's one-handed catch on the boundary to take a wicket & save a 6; Sadiq's nerve holding as, in the penultimate over at 171, he was struck for 2 then 6 (7 to win off 9 balls at that moment) only to bowl Smith with the third ball & follow with 3 dots; then Josephine to bowl the last over with 7 to win; 1 to Meek, then a run out as Ben Sid did his superman dive impression to run out top scorer Meek (57), as he strove to take a single to the w/k off ball 2, & Josephine's impeccable length & line, conceding only 2 more in the over. Magnifique, mes amis!

After rain had wiped out the first three fixtures, a sunny day in Gateshead saw an involved crowd enjoy a tense finish in the first Division 1 Academy game of 2023. 

The Bulls won the toss & chose to bat. Southern & McCord faced the left arm seam of Meek & Lugsden. A steady opening partnership of 46 when Angus, having survived a catch at gully off a no ball, (26,43b, 4x4 through the offside) cut Lugsden to gully in the 12^th over. Jacob & Will Carr pushed on, Will striking three nice 4's, square on the offside & pulling, to get to 17 before unluckily playing on to the sla of Carrick, 87-2 in the 20th.

Jacob, after yesterday's century at Mitford, hit straight strongly but at 106, on 44 (67b,5x4,1x6) seemed to play down the wrong line to the sla of Carrick & was bowled. 6 runs later Jan (9), forcing on the back foot, edged Muthe to w/k Gray, 112-4 in the 25th.

Ben Sid was joined by Sadiq but on 4 the latter was caught on the crease, lbw to Muthe, 122-5 in the 27th. A stand of 36 as Ben & Josephine built. Ben striking straight, thorough the leg side & high over long on before Josephine (13,35b 2x4) was c & b Wake, 158-6 in the 36th.

Jen (1) swung, but missed, to be bowled by Clark, 174-7 in the 39th. Ben's valuable innings (44, 36b, 5x4, 1x6) came to an end in the last over as he returned for 2 to try to retain the strike, only to be beaten by the throw to the w/k from backward square leg. Varun (1) edged to w/k Gray then Will (1*) & David (1*) took singles to reach 186-9 after 40 overs.

Opening for the Fell, Clark & Wake faced the seam of Josephine & Varun. Slow going against accurate bowling. The total had reached 30 when Wake (17), as non-striker, was late responding to a call from Clark & was beaten by a direct, underarm hit, as Angus swooped from cover. At 37 Clark (17) cutting, edged to Ben Sid off Will Young, who bowled a good 4 over spell, only suffering a little as Rutledge attacked.

Meek & Rutledge had moved the score to 67 when David Cragg's flight tempted Rutledge (25,27b, 5x4) to swing & bowled him, 67-3 in the 20^th, so work to do for the Fell at halfway.

Bryan & Meek, who survived a chance in the 20's, fashioned a good partnership of 61 for the 4^th wicket which only ended as Angus held a magnificent, one handed, deep square leg, boundary catch destined for 6 to dismiss Bryan (21, 33b 2x4) ! 128-4 in the 30th. Good field placing skipper !

Muthe (5) driving, lost his off stump to Josephine at 135 in the 33^rd but the experienced, left-handed Smith joined Meek & they attacked. Sadiq, Varun & Josephine were resisted until the dramatic last two overs. At 179 Smith (27, 23b 2x6) went back to Sadiq & was bowled, three dots followed, 8 to win.

Meek (57, 64b, 4x4) who had batted well, took a single from the first ball of the last over bowled by Josephine. He seemed to suggest something to batting partner Gregory & then, as non-striker, set off for a risky single to the keeper from the next. Ben Sid collected, took 4 paces & dived full length to break the wicket & effect the run out ! 180-7 with 4 balls to go; two singles only & a tremendous Bulls win by 4 runs! Josephine 1-21 in 8 overs.

We look forward to another exciting game on Sunday 4^th June at home to Hetton Lyons, from 1330, 40/40, & hope you can be there.

Duncan.