BULLS 7 WICKET WIN AT NEWCASTLE.

13th Aug 2024

                            BULLS 7 WICKET WIN AT NEWCASTLE.

                     NEPL Premier Division: Sat 10th August 2024.

                       SNCC v Newcastle (a) 110o, win/lose/draw.

Newcastle 172ao (48.1o) Ben Robinson 32, Asher Hart 36, Jaques du Toit 13, Rowan Shelton 18, Woody Wilson 24*: Tom Rogers 3-23, Jonny Wightman 1-29, Sean Tindale 1-17, Will Alexander 0-25, Oli McGee 4-61

SNCC 173-3 (40.3o) Sol Bell 92, Alex Charnley 12, Rob Peyton 46, Will Alexander 9*, Sean Tindale 3*: George Darwood 0-28, Asher Hart 0-16, Moshin Mukhtar 2-56, Woody Wilson 0-16, Matty Stewart 0-26, Jacques du Toit 1-19, Bobby Green 0-1.

SNCC won by 7 wickets- 24 points, Newcastle 3.

The Bulls missing Birtwisle, Gorantla, Hewison, Cragg & Crozier fielded a young & changed team giving 1st X1 league debuts to Alex Charnley & James Lunn & including Will Alexander, Ru Fletcher & Gavin Paton.

A sunny, warm & windy day & on winning the toss, Newcastle were invited to bat on a green tinged wicket. Green & Robinson faced Rogers & Wightman. 4-1 in the third over as Green (4) was adjudged lbw to Rogers, the third such appeal. Asher Hart then led a charmed life being the beneficiary of 5 dropped catches, two difficult on follow through by the bowler, mostly hard hit & an appeal for caught behind off his second ball from Rogers turned down when most present, including the batter later, believed there was an edge.

Tight opening spells from Tom & Jonny, then Sean & although Will's length was punished by Hart, there were edged 4's too so that at 22 over drinks the score had risen to 77-1. One run later Hart (36, 50b, 4x4 2x6) defending, edged Oli to slip where Ru took a neat catch.

In the 26th Rogers found the edge of Mukhtar's bat for w/k Rob to take the catch, 89-3. Robinson's vigil (32, 86b, 5x4) came to an end at 96 when on the back foot to Rogers, he edged to slip where Ru again obliged at chest height.

Oli was whirling away from the Cemetery end & in the 33rd having been hit for 6 by Du Toit, aimed to repeat only to find Rogers at long off, 106-5. An excellent piece of fielding by Alex Charnley accounted for Amin (11) in the 34th hitting the one striker's stump he had to aim at from square leg, 6 down.

Another in the next over as Stewart (0) facing Wightman was adjudged caught at second slip by Gavin, the ball lobbing apparently off glove & shoulder, although there was some debate. At 124 in the 41st Darwood hit a full toss back to Oli, 8 down. At 136 in the 44th Shelton (18) was bowled by Sean with one that nipped back.

The beneficiary of two difficult, stumping chances when on nought, Wilson struck down the ground with some purpose until at 172 Gibson (3) was lbw to Oli pushing forward, Wilson 24*. 4 wickets for Oli but good, tight spells from the seamers.

In reply, Sol Bell & Alex Charnley faced the seam of Darwood & Hart. A steady start, the first boundary arrived in the 5th from Sol. Darwood was struggling to find a length & Sol took two more boundaries in the 7th Alex repeating this in the 9th.

Shelton (rm) & Mukhtar (sla) entered the attack & it was Mukhtar in the 12th who bowled Alex (12, 39b, 2x4) playing back to one that skidded on, 39-1. Rob Peyton joined Sol & the pair batted sensibly, 50 coming up in the 16th over. Rob hitting straight or to mid wicket & Sol driving & pulling, boundaries were taken as Wilson had a spell of 3 overs.

Drinks were taken at 81-1 after 22 overs, Sol 50* (68b 7x4) Rob 13*. Mukhtar & Stewart continued but Hart returned to bowl overs 28 & 30, 119-1 after 30 overs when tea was taken, Sol 69* Rob 32*.

Du Toit & Mukhtar then bowled unchanged & the score mounted well - 8,9,10,6 in overs 31-34 but at 152 in the 34th Rob (46, 69b, 6x4) launched Du Doit to deep square leg where Robinson took the catch. A good return to form for Rob, a pity to get out in the way he did & the end of a splendid partnership of 113 for the second wicket, only the second over 100 in 2024 & Rob has been part of both. The other was 165 with Sean for the 6th wicket v Castle Eden in May.

In the next over Sol (92, 107 b, 11x4) who had batted beautifully, aimed for long off but found long on where Stewart took the catch off Mukhtar, 156-3 in the 35th. It was left to Will Alexander (9*) & Sean Tindale (3*) to ease the Bulls home from the third ball of the 41st over.

The young side had fielded well & enthusiastically embraced the experience. Weather interventions had meant this was the Bulls first consecutive victory in 2024.

Onward to Sat 17th August, SNCC v Burnmoor (h) 90 overs win/lose, 1200 start. A strong challenge with a full strength team to face the current league leaders after their defeat to Burnopfield last Saturday.

We hope you can be there. It should be exciting !

Duncan.