BULLS EARN LAST OVER WIN AGAINST CHESTER

5th Aug 2024

                      BULLS EARN LAST OVER WIN AGAINST CHESTER.

                           NEPL Premier Division: Sat 3^rd August 2024

                         SNCC v Chester-le-Street (h) w/l/d 110 overs.

SNCC 223-8 (58o) Simon BIrtwisle 48, Sol Bell 18, Nik Gorantla 23, Chris Hewison 65, Oli McGee 17*, Will Alexander 17: Matthew Robinson 0-46, Hedley Windows 3-54, Jack Harrison 3-48, Ash Thorpe 1-41, Josh Wilson 0-21

Chester-le-Street 179ao (51.2o) John Coxon 42, Jacob McCann 23, Josh Wilson 58: Tom Rogers 0-32, Jonny Wightman 1-32, Sean Tindale 3-39,  Oli McGee 2-29, Lee Crozier 2-24, Will Alexander 0-14.

SNCC won by 44 runs - 25 points, CLS 6.

On a sunny day the Bulls won the toss & chose to bat. The Cestrians, missing Hughes x 2, Simpson & Watson, opened with U17 Matthew Robinson (lm) & U16 Hedley Windows (rm). After 10 overs against Birty & Sol,  26-0, as the pair bowled accurately on a slow wicket where timing seemed to be elusive.

At 31 in the 11^th Harrison's first, Sol (18, 29b, 4x4), attacking off the back foot, edged to w/k McCann's right & he took a low, tumbling catch. Nik was positive, using his feet well, striking 3 boundaries & the total increased to 63 at the first 20 over drinks break, Thorpe (ob) having bowled 5 overs for only 12.

In the next over Nik (23, 23b, 3x4) was lbw to Harrison aiming to leg. The next 6 overs yielded 6 runs as Thorpe & Harrison offered little to attack. Wilson (ob) & Windows bowled 8 overs to lunch which was taken at 115-2 after 36 overs, Birty 35* (104b, 1x4) Hewi 37*(53b, 5x4).

The first over after the break yielded 13 runs as Hewi drove & glanced. In the 41^st over a Robinson delivery may have touched a bail but the wicket stayed in tact. Thorpe & Harrison in tandem again & at 160 in the 45^th a slight hesitation saw Birty (48, 125b, 2x4) fail to best Pearce's direct hit from cover to the bowler's end. An innings a patience which would turn out to be most valuable.

In the next over Hewi (65, 90b, 9x4) drove Thorpe firmly to short extra where Thompson took the catch, 163-4 in the 46th. Tom Rogers (0) picked out deep mid wicket off Harrison at 166 an over later. Sean & Rob put on 14 for the 6^th wicket but at 180  Sean (10) lofted Windows to deep mid wicket where Thompson held his third catch. In the same over, 3 balls later,  Rob (8) forward, was bowled, 181 -7.

Oli & Will faced Robinson & Windows in the last 5 overs & the score rose pleasingly to 222 in the last, the 58^th, when Will (17, 16b 1x4) cut Windows to point where Smith juggled & caught. Wighters (4) edged his one ball for 4 & the innings closed after the maximum 58 overs at 223-8 with Oli 17*

Coxon (rh) & McCann (lh) faced the pace of Rogers & swing of Wightman. Tough going, 17-0 after 10 overs. Tindale & Alexander both had 2 over spells & then McGee & Tindale began. An unexpected breakthrough in the 17^th as striker Coxon refused McCann's call for a single to mid wicket & the latter could not beat Nik's throw to bowler Oli who effected the run out, 49-1.

Two balls later Tinners bowled the inform Andrew Smith first ball, middle stump! Cue elation as Smudge had back to back league hundreds coming into this game, 49-2 in the 18th. An unnecessary overthrow gifted 3runs but two overs later Thompson (5) was lbw to McGee on the crease, 66-3. Pearce (5) seemed to be bowled off his pad by Tinners in the 24^th when the break was called, 75-4.

Lee Crozier entered the attack in company with Tom Rogers & with his first ball bowled Connolly (0), 75-5. Opener John Coxon had withstood the home team but at 98 in the 30^th he edged Crozier low to w/k Rob Peyton, 6 down. Wilson used his feet to the spinners every ball & attacked anything pitched up or short from the seamers such that the score had risen to 124 in the 35^th when Robinson overbalanced to McGee & was smartly stumped by Rob, 7 down.

Wilson pulled Tinners for 6 to square leg in the 40^th after which the score was 142. Wightman rejoined the attack & in the next Windows was unlucky to see a Wilson drive deflected onto the bowler's stumps by Tinners on follow through, 149-8. In the next Wighters gained an important lbw decision as Wilson aimed to leg (58, 54b, 6x4,1x6). A most positive innings with excellent use of the feet to the spinners, 9 down.

The winning draw of 200 was now a distance away but Thorpe & Harrison battled as the field closed in. Rogers, Crozier & McGee all tried to break  the partnership but it was Tinners who took the last over & with the second ball, quick, full & straight, bowled Harrison (10) to much jubilation. Thorpe 10*, a win by 44 runs & 25 points.  A good game for the spectators which went to the last over.

A first win since 22^nd June v Sunderland. Birty & Hewi provided the platform others contributed on a slow surface, then a tight opening 10 overs, a sharp run out, all the bowlers played a part, Tinners leading by example & deservedly taking the last wicket with only 4 balls remaining !

Onward to Sat 10^th August v Newcastle (a) w/l/d 110 overs, the last, before reverting to win lose on 17^th August v Burnmoor (h) 90 overs 1200 start then 5 more to 9^th Sept.

We hope you can be there to cheer the team on.

Duncan.