BULLS BOUNCE BACK WITH HOME WIN AGAINST CHESTER-LE-STREET

18th Aug 2022

                      NEPL Premier Division: Sat 13th August 2022: SNCC v CLS (h)

Chester-le-Street 231-8 (50o) John Coxon 46, Jacob McCann 81, Matthew Cranston 57, Josh Wilson 22: Jonny Wightman 3-42, Sean Tindale 0-38 Calum Fletcher 0-40, Oli McGee 2-29, Lee Crozier 1-34, Simon Birtwisle 2-46.

SNCC 235-6 (46.1o) Sol Bell 47, Rob Peyton 28, Chris Hewison 50, Alvin Dithole 33, Adam Cragg 23, Sean Tindale 29*: Josh Wilson 1-47, Robbie Dawson 1-55, Amaan Ul Haq 2-33, Jake Dickinson 0-48, John Harrison 2-42.

SCC won by 4 wickets -20 points, CLS 6.

With 5 NEPL win/lose matches to go, it was important to put in a winning performance after the difficulties of the last three games. As it turned out, a 4 wicket win over the Cestrians & defeats for nearest challengers Burnmoor & Hetton Lyons gave the Bulls a handy 21 point lead at the top of the Premier Division with 4 games to go.

CLS won the toss & chose to bat on another hot, cloudless, blue sky day at Roseworth Terrace. Coxon & McCann faced Wightman & Tindale. An enterprising opening stand of 111 in 26 overs on a flat surface with nothing much in it for the seamers but a bit of turn for the slower bowlers saw Oli, Lee & Simon from over 16. The batters ran well taking the scoring opportunities on offer.

At 111 Coxon, (46, 81b, 3x4) looking to force Birty off the back foot, was bowled. The prize wicket of Andrew Smith (2) followed 8 balls later as Lee found a way through his defences, 118-2 in the 27th.

McCann continued in company with Cranston, at the second drinks break after over 35 the score had risen to 146-2. In the 38^th Oli got two wickets in the over as first the left handed McCann 81 (109 b, 7x4) drove to Cragg at short mid wicket, an innings of substance, short arm pull in evidence, & 5 balls later G Harrison (0) was lbw sweeping, 159-4.

Cranston & Wilson put together a partnership of 60 for the 5^th wicket. Cranston 32* had a life, in over 43 when a lofted drive to long on off Birty, eluded Cal's upstretched hands to bounce for 4. Tindale & Wightman returned from the Grove as Birty continued from the Park end. 

4 wickets fell in the final 3 overs. Wilson 22 (31b,3x4) cut Jonny to point where Sol held the catch, Cranston 57 (62b, 6x4, 1x6), who had batted positively, drove Birty to long off where Hewi, sun glasses on, took a neat catch, 221-6. In the last Dawson (1) was bowled by Jonny & G Harrison (2) caught by Sean at long off with one ball remaining. Hot day but fielding concentration mostly good on a dry outfield.

Bell & Birtwisle faced Wilson (ob) & Dawson (rm). Birty (2) edged Wilson to w/k McCann in the 3rd, 9-1. Sol & Rob produced a partnership of 66 before Rob 28(30b, 5x4) & in control, mistimed a big drive off Ul Haq to long off where Dawson took the catch comfortably, 75-2 in the 13th. Ul Haq had bowled nicely, his first 7 overs for 22 & a wicket.

86-2 at first drinks break after 16 overs. Hewi pushed singles but in Harrison's first over Sol 47 (63b, 5x4) drove a low full toss to Smith at mid wicket. A pity, he was batting well, 96-3 in the 20^th. Alvin was positive & struck 5x4 in his 33 (28b) before pulling Ul Haq straight to Dickinson on the mid wicket boundary, 153-4, an enterprising partnership of 57 with Hewi.

164-4 at the second drinks break after 34 overs. Hewi & Adam maintained the momentum c 10 runs ahead of the rate needed. A partnership of 46 took the score to 199 in the 40th when Hewi edged Harrison to w/k McCann for a most worthwhile 50 (74b 3x4). At the same score, 5 balls later, Adam 23 (34b, 3x4) drove Dawson to Ul Haq at mid off, 199-6. 

Bowling changes made little difference as Sean & Oli first steadied the ship then accelerated. Sean 29* (15b, 4x4) delightfully positive & Oli 6* & it was Sean who drove the winning boundary past point from the first ball of the 47^th over.

A welcome win, but 4 tough league games to go beginning with Eppleton (a) Sat 20^th Aug, Benwell Hill (a) Sat 27^th Aug & Sunderland (a) Sat 3^rd Sept before the final home game v Hetton Lyons on Sat 10^th September.

Based on our experience of 2021 there could well be twists & turns yet to come. We must maintain the standards set & be determined in the conditions prevailing, with batters aiming to continue when well set. We can do this !

Onward mes amis !

Duncan.