BULLS ALMOST THERE AFTER VICTORY AT EPPLETON ON A TRICKY WICKET

27th Aug 2018

NEPL PREMIER DIVISION 20/22 MON 27TH AUGUST 2018.

EPPLETON 95 ao (33.5o) Joe Coyne 38, Craig Scurr 18: Jonny Wightman 2-31, Lee Crozier 5-26, Simon Birtwisle 3-16.

SNCC 97-3 (32.4o) Simon Birtwisle 34, Sean Tindale 22, Joh Graham 14*, Adam Cragg 15*: Joe Coyne 3-25.

SNCC 22 points, Eppleton 1.

Heavy rain had got under the covers the day before at Church Road & an already used wicket had to be prepared quickly to ensure the game could begin. A warmish day, a dry but worn surface at the top of the square persuaded the visitors to ask Eppleton to bat.

Luke Henderson & Marcus Brown faced Jonny Wightman & Sean Tindale, the latter from the Church Road end. After three maidens from 4 overs, in the 5th, Wightman pinned Brown (6) lbw on the crease. Six runs & 4 overs later, Wightman bowled home skipper Dean Musther (3) with one that moved away off the pitch. 15-2 in the 9th. The bounce was slightly uneven & batting not easy.

Tindale had been replaced by Michael Craigs but Henderson continued to be relatively untroubled, scoring mainly on the legside, & he & ex Bull Joe Coyne, moved the score nicely along to 55 helped by  Jonny Wightman conceding more boundaries to Coyne, 5, than in the whole of his last five games.

After 4 overs from Craigs, Crozier replaced him & in the 18th, his second over from the Road end, persuaded Henderson to chip to mid wicket where Sean Tindale held a comfortable catch, 55-3. Simon Birtwisle replaced Wightman & he & Lee, would operate unchanged for the rest of the innings.

After 7 nicely timed boundaries Coyne was disappointed to be adjudged lbw to Birtwisle for 38. 71-4. One over later, the 24th, Josh Coughlin(1) drove Crozier uppishly towards cover where Adam Cragg made good ground to his right & took a smart, tumbling catch. At the same score Gary Burlinson (8) drove Birtwisle behind the bowler on the offside, where John Graham, moving quickly to his right, held another neat catch, two handed. 76-6 in the 25th.

Jack McBeth joined Craig Scurr &, after 11 balls of defence, pushing forward to Birtwisle was smartly stumped by Rob Peyton without scoring. The left handed Scurr (18) showed good intent, hitting Crozier for 4 & 6 before being deceived in the flight & skying to backward point where Alex Weetman held the catch. 94-7 in the 27th.

The last two wickets went to Crozier in over number 34 as Whitelock (1) was bowled & Wilson (0)  lbw leaving Jake Pratt, an U14 County player, undefeated after 12 balls of solid defence. 95 all out after 2 hours play. Lee finished with 5-26 & Simon 3-16. A tricky wicket to bat on beckoned.

Josh Coughlin from Church Road & Jack McBeth opened up against Simon Birtwisle & Sean Tindale. Progress was steady as both openers resisted an accurate opening spell of 0-7 in 6 overs by Coughlin. 20 by the end of the 6th over with only 2 boundaries. 

At 29, Scurr's slow left arm, replaced McBeth. The occasional slightly loose delivery was scored off & Joe Coyne's off breaks, from over 15, were welcomed by 2 fours & a two before Sean Tindale (22) & batting nicely including a lovely cover drive for 4, hit a long hop to square leg where Coughlin held the low catch. John Harbottle entered at 3, after his 54 two days earlier. This presaged 3 maidens from Coyne who then saw Harbottle (0) adjudged caught behind down the legside off Coyne, 57-2.

This was to become 66 for 3 as Birtwisle, seeking to mess with Coyne's length moved down the wicket to be met by a grubber & adjudged lbw for a hard fought 34 (5x4, 81b,82mins). At 4 John Graham, who had been watchful as the ball bounced & turned from the spinners, was joined by Adam Cragg.

Not without alarms but sensibly picking off the occasional  bad ball, the score rose to 75 at the end of the 29th whereupon Scurr's 11th over went for 12 as both batsmen found the boundary sweeping & reversing. Connor Whitelock bowled one over for 2 before the end came as Graham feathered to very fine leg for 4 off Coyne, who finished with 3-25 from 10.4 overs.

John 14*, Adam 15*, a vital partnership of 31 in 8 overs on a tricky surface, requiring technical skill & experience to survive. 22 points to the Bulls, 1 to Eppleton.

As news filtered through that CLS were having difficulty despatching an obdurate Benwell Hill, excitement built as the overs ticked down at Denton Bank. But CLS got the win & 26 points in the last over, the 52nd. This leaves the Bulls with a 55 point cushion heading into the last two league matches. 432 points so far, the record is held by Stockton at 486. 60 available, a worthwhile aim but more important to play well & remain undefeated. We must continue !!

Sacriston at home Sat 1st September has an 1145 start. Felling (h) ,also 1145, concludes the league programme on Sat 8th September when it is hoped to invite old players to share the celebrations throughout the day. A remarkable season in many ways. 

Wed 29th August:  sees SN v Ashington (a) in the Smithson County Cup 1/4 final. 

Sun 2nd Sept: the rescheduled 2nd X1 T20 finals day is played at Sacriston. SNCC v Tynemouth has a 1330 start. 

Sun 9th September:  SN 1st X1 contest the final of the Tyneside Charity Bowl v Consett at Priors Flat, home of Tynedale CC. T20 match from 1400.

Sun 9th September: SN Academy play in the T20 finals day at a venue to be announced.

Sat 15th September: 1864's final WTL game v Stocksfield is at Roseworth Terrace 1330 start.

Do come along to support your favourite team !!

Duncan.