BULLS FALTER AT WHITBURN BUT BOUNCE BACK AGAINST THE HILL.

5th Sep 2024

                      BULLS FALTER AT WHITBURN BUT BOUNCE BACK AGAINST THE HILL.

              NEPL Division 2: Sat 31^st August 2024: SNCC v Whitburn (a) 45/45 win/lose, 1200.

SNCC 163ao (35.3o) Nathan Gough 53, Ru Fletcher 13, James Lunn 26, Gavin Paton 39: Ian Elliot 2-29, Alex Mapstone 4-32, Ewan Jenkins 3-37, Zac Smith 1-29, Luke Smith 0-35.

Whitburn 164-3 (31.5o) Matthew May 42, Ross Abdy 24, Zac Smith 29*, Ben Markham 42*: James Lunn 0-27, Gavin Paton 1-35, Allan Davidson 0-12, Nathan Gough 1-30, Ru Fletcher 0-4, George Gray 1-46.

Whitburn won by 7 wickets - 24 points, SNCC 4.

On a sunny day the Bulls chose to bat. McCord & Charnley faced Elliot & Mapstone. Jacob (0) driving edged to w/k Abdy on ball 3. Alex C (5) defending was bowled by the left arm seam of Mapstone at 26 in the 8th. In the same over David Edwards aimed to leg but was lbw, 27-3.

A partnership of 33 between Nathan & Alex W ended at 60 when Alex (6) cutting edged to w/k Abdy. Nathan (53, 59b, 6x4, 1x6) had batted beautifully but at 74 he was caught in the deep by Z Smith off Jenkins' left arm seam. 7 runs later Will Carr (6) was bowled round his legs by Jenkins, 6 down.

A partnership of 20 between Ru & Lunny ended at 101 when Ru's (13) pick up tp deep square leg was caught by May off Jenkins. A splendid stand of 59 between Lunny & Gav in which both played nice attacking shots ended at 160 when Gav (39, 34b, 4x4 2x6) was lbw to Mapstone aiming to leg. Lunny (26, 35b 2x4) skied Ellioy to point 2 runs later & Allan (1), on the front foot, was bowled by Mapstone. 163 all out considerably under par !

Whitburn's May & Shields faced Lunn (ob) & Paton (rm). A steady opening including 4 maidens, 27-0 after 7 overs, then at 37 in the 11^th Shields (7), defending, was caught at slip by Gav off Nathan. Allan injured a foot preventing a firm drive but was then hobbling. George's first ball was despatched straight for 6 by the left handed  Abdy but at 66 in the 16^th revenge as he (24, 14b, 2x4 2x6) drove George to Nathan at extra cover.

May (42, 63b, 3x4 2x6) continued to bat pleasingly but at 99 in the 21^st over Gav, around the wicket to the left hander, bowled him. Zac Smith & Markham (lh) put together a partnership of 64 to win the game by 7 wickets in the 32^nd over.

An underwhelming display with the bat, Nathan, lunny & Gav apart & a comfortable win for the home team. The Bulls hoping to bounce back on the following day at Denton Bank.....& they did in style !!

                                         BULLS BOUNCE BACK WITH RECORD SCORE AT THE HILL.

                                                               ALEX CHARNLEY HITS 147*

          Sun 1^st Sept 2024: NEPL Division 2: SNCC v Benwell Hill (a) 45/45 win/lose from 1200.

SNCC 370-5 (45o) Ru Fletcher 56, Alex Charnley 147*, Nathan Gough 73, David Edwards 33, Gavin Paton 17*: Warren Poxon 1-64, Abu Siddique 1-71, Ben Robinson 1-78, Ayush Chakraborty 1-53, Rory Mustard 0-20, David Haxon 0-26.

Benwell Hill 85-6 (22.2o) Warren Poxon 10, Abu Siddique 28*, David Haxon 16: James Lunn 4-24, Gavin Paton 1-24, George Gray 1-22, Gregor Pearce 0-14.

Rain delay: revised target for Benwell Hill 184 from 22.2 overs.

SNCC won by 98 runs- 24 points, Benwell Hill 2.

Weakened by unavailability & the competing claim of a Toon fixture, the Hill invited the Bulls to bat who then produced their highest ever total as 7 bowlers toiled to contain the onslaught. Opener Alex Charnley led the way with a magnificent 147* (121b, 16x4) & fashioned two, over 100 partnerships with Ru (56) for the first wicket of 101 & then with Nathan (73) of 128 for the third.

Dropped in the first over off Poxon, Charners made the most of his good fortune allowing Ru to dominate the opening partnership of 101 in 14.5 overs. Picking the length well & hitting on back & front foot bowlers Poxon, Siddique Robinson & Chakraborty toiled until Ru (56, 59b 9x4) having stroked 9 boundaries to all parts, advanced to Chakraborty & was stumped by w/k Mustard.

Will Carr (10, 17b 2x4) but although forward, was lbw to Armstrong's leg breaks in over 18, 122-2. Nathan then blasted 73 in 41 balls, driving down the ground in trademark fashion or lofting to leg, including 5x4 off the 26^th bowled by Mustard. The mayhem ended at 250 in the 32^nd over when he was caught at long on off Siddique.

Alex C had reached 50 in the 21^st over & reached a deserved 100 in the 34th. Angus (1), a rare failure, pushed forward & edged to Hynd off Poxon. David Edwards then spanked 33 in 22b with 4x4 through the offside & straight before he was caught at short fine leg off Robinson at 336 in the 42^nd over.

33 runs came from the last three overs bowled by Haxon & Mustard as Gav hit consecutive 6's & Charners moved smoothly to his highest ever score, a magnificent 147* (121b, 16x4), in a record SNCC total of 370-5 for any team your correspondent can remember since 1971.

Rain intervened & reduced the Benwell Hill target to 184 off 22.2 overs. R Mustard & M Hynd faced  the off spin of James Lunn & right arm seam of Gavin Paton. Mustard (9) edged Paton to Ru at first slip in the 2^nd over. In the 5^th M Hynd (3) played on to Lunny, 20-2. In the 7^th Poxon (10), aiming to leave, was bowled by Lunny, 27-3.

Haxon & Siddique consolidated until at 50 in the 11^th Haxon (16) was well held by Angus at mid on. 10 runs later Armstrong (4) driving, was bowled by Lunny, 5 down. Ru had the opportunity to give Lunny a 5 fer but the chance off Robinson went begging, oh my captain !

However at 65 in the 18^th Robinson (3) drove George to extra cover where Nathan took the catch. Siddique (28*) & Liam Hynd (6*) remained undefeated but to no avail the Bulls winning by 98 runs after 22.2 overs with Benwell Hill 85-6.

This win sees SN remain in  8^th place in Division 2 on 259 points with two matches to go.

Onward to Sat 7^th Sept: SNCC v Sacriston (a) 1200, 45/45 win/lose

Sun 8^th Sept: Banks Bowl 100 finals day at Whitburn, SNCC v Tynedale 1330, second semi final

 & finally Sat 14^th Sept: SNCC v Felling (a) 1200, 45/45 win/lose.

We hope you can be there to see if the 2's can win another cup competition in 2024.

Duncan.