BULLS ARE NEPL PREMIER DIVISION CHAMPIONS FOR 2021...

17th Sep 2021

BULLS ARE NEPL PREMIER DIVISION CHAMPIONS FOR 2021.

SEAN TINDALE'S OUTSTANDING INNINGS BACKED UP BY EXCELLENCE IN THE FIELD.

Always important to 'seize the day' when given a second chance. The double disappointment of two weeks ago was firmly put to one side as the Bulls overcame leaders at start of play, Burnmoor on Sat 11th September in the 'winner takes all' game at Roseworth Terrace.

SNCC 190-8 (50o) Simon Birtwisle 43, Michael Richardson 31, Adam Cragg 23, Sean Tindale 66*: Chaminda Bandara 2-34, Graeme Bridge 1-24, Craig Stephenson 2-32, Ryan Pringle 2-47.

Burnmoor 150ao (44.4o) Allan Worthy 16, Ross Greenwell 23, Craig Stephenson 17, Josh Coughlin 31: Jonny Wightman 3-25, Sean Tindale 0-18, Lee Crozier 1-33, Cal Fletcher 2-23, Oli McGee 3-38, Simon Birtwisle 0-7.

SNCC win by 40 runs. (NEPL Premier Division Champions 2021.)

The Bulls chose to bat on a warm, breezy day. Birtwisle & Bell faced the seam of Bandara & Coughlin. Sol (3) sought to drive Bandara but edged to Pringle at second slip, who took a good catch, low to his right. 5-1 in the 3rd.

Birty & Richo played steadily & accumulated well on a slowish surface. The partnership had reached 69 in the 23rd when Birty (43, 57b, 73m, 5x4) was bowled aiming to drive the off spin of Stephenson, 74-2.

Seeking to up the rate Chris Hewison (6) advanced but was also bowled by Stephenson at 88 & 3 balls later Richo was caught by w/k Linsley off the slow left arm of Bridge for a well-made 31 (67b, 82m, 2x4). 88-4 after 25overs, repairs needed.

Adam Cragg & Sean Tindale batted cautiously against the all spin attack. Running well taking ones & twos, they had moved the score to 140 in the 42nd when Craggy (23), seeming to change his shot, was lbw to Pringle. 

Rob Peyton (4) driving, edged behind off Bandara at 151 in the 45th. Sean launched Pringle for his first six over long off before Oli (1) was run out in the pursuit of quick runs, 167-7 in the 47th. Two runs later Jonny's attempted reverse sweep ended with him being bowled for 2 by Pringle. 

It was left to Sean, with Calum's (3*) help, to fashion a vital partnership of 21* for the 9th wicket. 7 from the 49th & 12 coming from the last over, including another glorious 6 over long off at the Park end.  

Sean ended 66* (91b, 85m, 2x4, 2x6,) taking 17 off the last two overs, an outstandingly patient & accomplished innings in the pressurised circumstances of the day, securing a defendable total. Burnmoor's spinners had bowled well.

Worthy & Greenwell faced the seam of Wightman (Park) & Tindale (Grove). Allan Worthy began with intent striking three boundaries 2 in the 3rd, 1 in the 4th before Richo stood up to prevent him advancing & Jonny, bowling with great rhythm, got him to play on, 20-1 in the 7th.

Jonny & Sean both beat the bat with regularity & Greenwell & Brown appeared becalmed, 22-1 after 10o. In the 14th Brown (8) edged behind off Cal for Richo to take low catch, diving forward & to his right, 38-2.

Lee had begun a spell & in his 3rd over persuaded Pringle (2) to slog sweep & Birty took a good catch, running in from deep backward square, 45-3. Three overs later, Craig (2) was palpably lbw to Cal, 50-4. Two more good wickets for Cal, 17 in his first, 1st X1  season.

From the first ball of the 20th over Greenwell hit Cal to backward point & took a single, Birty's shy missed, Rob, racing into the circle at mid-wicket, collected, Greenwell called for a second only for Simpson, rightly, to send him back. A one bounce throw to Cal affected the runout as Greenwell (23) failed to make his ground at the bowler's end, 53-5. Teamwork ! Was the pressure telling?

There followed two partnerships between Simpson & Stephenson (30) & Stephenson & Coughlin (39) which threatened. In Oli's 3rd over Simpson (14) was lbw, 84-6 in the 28th. Stephenson (17) was well caught & bowled by Oli in the 40th, low to his right from a leading edge, 123-7.

When it is your day, the miraculous catch that brought an end to Coughlin's innings happens! From the first ball of the 42nd over, the left-handed Josh struck Oli straight & high to the Grove end sightscreen. Rob, at long off, & Sol, at long on, converged. To observers it appeared they would collide, both called, Sol got there first, but the ball escaped his upward cupped hands & Rob, running behind him, juggled the dropping ball via a forearm & emerged with it held aloft!! 130-8.

Wightman returned; the orange ball was still swinging, & first the left-handed Bandara (7) was bowled through the gate & after two lusty blows off Oli, Graeme Bridge (12) attacking, played on to Jonny after 44.4 overs. Bulls victorious! Average points 16.71 to Burnmoor's 16.45. Although disappointed, the visitors were magnanimous in defeat.

NEPL Chairman, John Smithson presented the Premier Division Cup to captain Adam Cragg, praising the excellent performance of the team with special reference to Man Of the Match, Sean Tindale (66* & 7-3-18-0).

Two important partnerships, Birty & Michael, Adam & Sean, one outstanding innings, as good a bowling & fielding display as we have seen all season. Everyone played a part. 

The 13th Premier Division league title in the 21 years of the NEPL. A T20 & League double as in 2018. ECB Royal London Club Championship semi-finalists, ECB Club T20 Area finalists, 36 games played, 18 league, 18 in cups, a long season.

League runs for Sol 779, Simon 576, Michael 596, Chris 337, Adam 475. League wickets for Jonny 31, Sean 33, Lee 34, Oli 27, Cal 17. Fielding excellence from Adam every week.

Relief, happiness, contentment, fulfilment, recognition of a true team effort were the emotions as Adam presented John Tindale (coach) & John Ruddick (scorer) with gifts from the team in recognition of their invaluable service & support. Michael complemented by thanking Craig, our superb Groundsman, Bill & the bar team & all our families & supporters. A triumph for them as much as for the players.

Photographs were taken. The evening was filled with happy people singing & dancing & went on...... & on...... & on!!

The 2021 SNCC Presentation Evening is a combined Club event on Friday 24th September in the Indoor Centre beginning at 1800. Invitations, from Michael Richardson (CEO) to all members, have already been emailed. 

At the end of this most difficult year, please do come along to help us celebrate our achievements & progress together. You will be most welcome.

Duncan.