BULLS DEFEAT FELLING, BURNMOOR LOSE TO WASHINGTON, LAST GAME SNCC V BURNMOOR (H) WILL DECIDE CHAMPIONS FOR 2021.

6th Sep 2021

And so it came to pass that after the diappointments of last weekend, the season took a twist, for as the Bulls completed a comprehensive defeat of Felling in the gloom, there was news that Washington had defeated Burnmoor by 22 runs in a reduced 35 overs /side match at Harraton Lane.

So all to  play for now in the final game of the season as the Bulls face Burnmoor at Roseworth Terrace on Sat 11th September.

SNCC 278-1 (50o) Simon Birtwisle 102*, Sol Bell 47, Michael Richardson 111*: Alasdair Appleby 1-65, Paul Leonard 0-30, Abdul Ameer 0-64, Anthony Trotter 0-42 Ben Forster 0-39, David Hill 0-35.

Felling 153ao (32.2o) Alasdair Appleby 67, Alan Mustard 17, Eddie Hurst 22: Jonny Wightman 0-28, Sean Tindale 0-21, Calum Fletcher 2-37, Lee Crozier 5-32, Oli McGee 0-22, Simon Birtwisle 1-5, Sol Bell 0-2.

SNCC won by 90 runs. (revised target 244 off 39o) 20 points. (avg points 16.55)

The visitors won the toss & chose to field. Leonard's accurate inswing was steady & the score was only 13 after 7 overs when Ameer's 4th over went for 17. The rate was maintained, the light drizzle continued but to the players & umpires credit they stayed on.

50 in 12.2 overs, the score had reached 82 in the 19th, Sol, batting nicely, had reached 47 (59b 6x4), when he was rather unexpectedly bowled by Appleby's off spin, playing over a full pitch. The drizzle was intermittent & the grass damp, but there was some good ground fielding.

Richo joined Birty & they proceded to bat with some freedom on a slick surface that made the ball come on. With Michael going at a run a ball, 150 came up in the 32nd over & the pair continued without alarms both reaching well deserved centuries, Michael 100 (98b 121m 12x4) one over before Simon, from the first ball of the last over, 100, (135b, 199m, 10x4).  

At the end of 50 overs, the pair had registered an undefeated  partnership of 196*, the highest of the season for any SNCC wicket, Richo 111* & Birty 102*, their first centuries of the season. Magnificent !

After one over of the Felling reply the rain became more persistent & 10 overs were lost. The revised calculation was 244 in 39 overs. On the resumption, Alasdair Appleby was in fine form, driving & pulling he reached 50 from 36b in 40 minutes with 8x4. Wightman, Tindale & Fletcher all suffered.

The score had reached 95 in only the 13th over when, after a straight driven 4, aiming a repeat, Appleby (67, 50b, 10x4) advanced to Crozier, was beaten & Richo completed the stumping. Mustard (17) was then lbw to Cal Fletcher in the next over & 4 balls later he bowled Witherspoon (0).

An optimistic call from Hurst left Stamper (run out 0) with much to do & Birty hit the stumps from backward point, 110-4 in the 16th. One over later Leonard drove Crozier to cover where Hewi took a neat catch. In the 21st, Crozier persuaded Hurst (22) to sky & Richo took the catch moving towards point. One ball later Forster (0) was lbw to Lee, 125-7.

A simliar fate awaited Gilmour in the 23rd over, lbw Crozier, another 5 wicket haul for Lee, 7.2-3-32-5, 131-8. Oli wheeled away from the Grove end but it was Birty who struck having Ameer lbw in the 25th, 135-9. Anthony Trotter, who scored a lively 30 the last time the sides met in 2019, was determined to get to 150 & 2 bonus points. 

He & David Hill (13*) batted sensibly & achieved their goal in the 32nd over. Sol Bell's first Premier Division over went for 2 but his second ball was brilliantly cut off at long on by a racing & diving Rob, Oli completed the return, Sol to Richo & a run out of Trotter (6) at the striker's end ! Teamwork!

The scoreboard lights shone brightly, the drizzle had subsided & the news of Washington's win was confirmed, a good end to the day. So one pivotal game to go.  Burnmoor current average points 16.95, Bulls current  average points 16.55. May the weather be kind on Sat 11th September & your support be evident please for this exciting finale. You will be most welcome.

Duncan