BULLS DEFEAT ASHINGTON TO STAY 3RD IN DIVISION 2: TOMLINSON THE ROCK.

28th Aug 2023

              Sat 26^th Sug 2023: NEPL Division 2: SNCC v Ashington (a) 50/50

Ashington 171ao( 46.4o) Michael Levison 61, David Rutherford 29, Greg Williams 29: Allan Davidson 0-33, Gavin Paton 2-31, Ben Hobbs 3-29, James Lunn 0-21, Sadiq Khan 2-31, Will Alexander 3-16.

SNCC 174-3 (41.5o) Nick Tominson 96*, Charlie Wilson 19, Angus Southern 29, Alex Weetman 3, Will Alexander 15*: David Rutherford 0-12, Charlie Harmison 2-42, Matthew Storey 0-20, Paul Rutherford 1-24, Alex Tait 0-23, Luke Hetherington 0-33, George Collins 0-10, Josh Robinson 0-6.

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

Ashington chose to bat, Levison & Woolley faced the seam of Davidson (Pavilion) & Paton (houses). 38 -0 after 10 overs including a maiden from Ben Hobbs. In the 12^th Woolley (10) defending, edged Hobbs to w/k Alex Weetman, 44-1. David Rutherford & Levison then put together a useful stand with Levison particularly fluent whilst Rutherford found his timing elusive. Paton changed ends but the rate was steady at 3+.

Another maiden to Ben in the 14^th 68-1 after 20 as Lunny (ob) & Sadiq (lb) entered the attack. It was the introduction of Will Alexander bowling seam for the first time after protecting a side strain &, although struggling a bit with his run up & overstepping, he persuaded Rutherford to cut, but the ball looped to point where Nick T took the catch, 107-2.

This became 108-3 in the next as Charlie Harmison (0) was bowled by Sadiq with one that never left the floor! Levison had batted well (61, 89b, 8x4) but at 121 he attempted to pull Will, bowling briskly from the Pavilion end, but only succeeded  in skying Ru at mid on, 4 down.

125-5 in the next as Storey (3) aimed to cut Sadiq but was very well held by w/k Alex & then 127-6 as Robinson (5) swatted a slower ball from Will to mid on where Ru again obliged. Will 3-16 from 5 overs of good pace. A stand of 38 between Williams & Tait ensued. Ben began a second spell in over 40 as had Allan the over before.

12 from over 42 but Ben got his revenge in his next as Tait (12) was bowled as was Collins (0) first ball. 15 year old Luke Hetherington survived the hat trick ball, 165-8. Williams (29,29b, 5x4) then attacked but only succeeded in skying the returning Gavin to cover where Ben held a good catch, 169-9. P Rutherford (1) succumbed in Gavin's next, launching in the direction off long off for Sadiq to run in & take an excellent catch, falling forward, 171all out.

Nick Tomlinson & Charlie Wilson formed a left handed opening partnership. They faced the seam of David Rutherford & Charlie Harmison. The wicket was slow & timing not entirley straightforward, 37-0 after 10 overs. Storey (rm) & the sla of Paul Rutherford entered the attack. In over 11 Charlie W (19) launched P Rutherford towards long on where Woolley, racing in, diving & juggling, held a very good catch, 40-1.

Nick & Angus pressed on as Tait's sla replaced Storey & at 25 overs the score was 82-1, the sla of P Rutherford & Tait in tandem. 15 year old Luke Hetherington (rm) entered the attack in over 28. The score rose steadily, Nick driving through the off side, clipping to leg or cutting, Angus driving. 

At 113 in the 31^st Angus (29, 64b 4x4) played forward to Harmison but inside edged on to his stumps. Then Alex Weetman (3) defending, edged behind off the same bowler in over 33, 123-3. Will Alexander joined Nick & the pair saw the Bulls home comfortably, 51 runs coming from  the last 7 overs as Collins & Robinson were given short spells. Nick (96*, 119b, 9x4) manging the chase very well in the company of Will (15*, 29b).

This win leaves the Bulls in 3^rd place on 261 points with three games to go beginning on Bank Holiday Monday with a home game to leaders Chester-le-Street. Then home again to Sunderland, Sat 2^nd Sept & away to Hetton Lyons, Sat 9^th Sept the last game.

Do come along to cheer the Bulls on, let us end the season well !!

Duncan.