BULLS FIGHT HARD BUT JUST FAIL TO DEFEND A LOW TOTAL

22nd May 2023

 Sat 20^th May 2023: NEPL Division 2: SNCC v Whitburn (a)

SNCC 137ao (42.3o) Alex Charnley 34. Sadiq Khan 34, Gavin Paton 10, Ben Hobbs 10: Ian Elliott 2-12, Jon Shakespeare 0-15, Alex Mapstone 3-28, Zac Smith 0-23, Harry Kennedy 1-25, Mark Elliott 3-32.

Whitburn 138-8 (48.5o) Zac Smith 27, Gareth Welsh 38, Mark Elliott 17, Craig Smith 15: Allan Davidson 2-31, Gavin Paton 1-9, Ben Hobbs 0-14, Ru Fletcher 0-7, Sadiq Khan 1-23, George Gray 3-28, James Lunn 1-22.

Whitburn won by 2 wickets - 24 points, SNCC 4.

The home team won the toss, a good one to win, & invited the Bulls to bat on a wet wicket which gave assistance to the bowlers. Fletcher & Charnley faced the seam of Ian Elliott & Shakespeare. Ru (3) gloved to w/k Mallaby off Elliott with the total at 5. A handy partnership of 36 between Alex & Angus ended at 41 when Angus (8) defending, nicked behind off U14 Mapstone, 41-2.

At 53 Alex W (2) driving was caught at second slip by Markham off Mapstone. Sadiq joined Alex C. This became 73-4 as James (6) chipped  to Welsh off Kennedy. At the same score Alex C (34,73b,3x4,1x6), who had batted well, was lbw pushing forward to off spinner Mark Elliott, 73-5.

Ben Sid (2) was caught at mid wicket by Welsh off M Elliott at 81. Sadiq & Gavin fashioned a partnership of 30 until at 111, Gavin (10) steering unsuccessfully, edged Mapstone to w/k Mallaby, 7 down. At 120 Sadiq (26, 39b, 2x4, 2x6), who had been positive, skied to Shakespeare at cover off M Elliott. Ben Hobbs (10) showed promise but he succumbed to a catch by Craig Smith at slip off Ian Elliott, 126-9.

George (3) was run out turning completely blind for 2 & being run out by the w/k. leaving Allan (1*), 137 after only 42.3 overs, a total which included 21 wides.

Mallaby & Smith faced the right arm seam of Davidson & Paton. Both bowled well but the batsmen knew that crease occupation was likely to lead to victory so dug in waiting for scoring opportunities.

Gavin's superb spell of 10 overs & 3 maidens for only 9, included the wicket of Mallaby (12) at 24 caught by Ru at short extra as the ball died. Allan was similarly economical. Smith & Welsh pushed gently on. 

Ringing the changes in search of a wicket, Ben Hobbs, Ru had spells & Sadiq began one.

At 58 in the 25^th Smith 27, (92b, 2x4) was well caught & bowled by George Gray over his head.  Hearn's (2) leading edge, was caught by Ru at extra cover also off George, 66-3. The left-handed Markham joined Welsh but had scored only 2, before he too succumbed to George, being caught by Angus at extra cover 83-4 in the 35^th over. A lovely spell from George, 3-28 in 10 overs maintaining his progress & bowling consistently.

Sadiq was also bowling a good spell from the Road end & he had Welsh (38, 66b, 4x4) attempting to cut was caught by w/k Ben Sid at 93 in the 40th over. The experienced Mark Elliott & captain Craig Smith were watchful as the overs ticked by but, with only 5 down, felt able to attack taking 2x4 & 2x6, as James suffered, to get to 127 when both were out; Smith (15, 1x4 1x6) driving, was very well caught diving to his left by bowler Lunn & Elliott (17, 1x4 1x6) caught by Alex C at deep square leg, head high which would have gone for 6 off Allan Davidson, 127-7 after 47.1o

Shakespeare hit a 6 & then Kennedy (2) was caught by Angus at cover of Allan, 135-8. The winning run came after 48.5 overs, Ian Elliott (1*).

The Bulls should be proud of a most creditable effort by a young side asked to defend too low a total, in taking the game to the penultimate over. The spirit is good, we must aim to bounce back against Tynemouth (h) Sat 27^th May 2023, in a 105 over game, 1200 start.

Please come along, your support would most appreciated. 

Duncan