BULLS HAPPY SATURDAY, SORRY SUNDAY IN THE NATIONAL.

25th Jun 2024

           BULLS HAPPY SATURDAY, SORRY SUNDAY IN THE NATIONAL.

      Sat 22^nd June 2024: NEPL Premier Division: SNCC v Sunderland (h)

Sunderland 74ao (29o) Dan Shurben 11, Jack Brassell 19: Tom Rogers 4-25, Jonny Wightman 0-14, Sean Tindale 5-21, Oli McGee 1-7.

SNCC 75-2 (15.4o) Simon Birtwisle 17, Sol Bell 41*, Chris Hewison 12*: Jack Brassell 2-19, Kieran Waterson 0-38, Joe Stuart 0-14.

SNCC won by 8 wickets - 22 points, Sunderland 0.

The visitors were invited to bat on a sunny day at Roseworth Terrace. Fishwick & Shurben faced the seam of Rogers (Grove) & Wightman (Park). A watchful beginning, 12 from the first 6 overs, an lbw appeal turned down & then in the 7th Fishwick (5) was bowled by Rogers.

Drissell joined Shurben & the pair advanced the score to 29 in the 11^th when Shurben (11) seemed unlucky to be given out caught behind off Rogers. Tindale began a spell from the Park & in his second over Allan (4) slapped hard but straight to Cragg at short extra who took a smart catch, 34-3.

39-4 in Sean's next over the 14^th as Drissell (8) was bowled off stump. At 43 in the 18^th Johnson (4), having steered nicely to point for 4, was bowled third ball. At the same score in Sean's next Applegarth (0) defending, was also bowled, 6 down: Sean 4-11 at this point.

Oli had bowled 3 consecutive maidens & in his 6^th Youldon (7) advanced but drove straight to cover where Adam took another neat catch, 49-7. Tom returned in over 25 & Hutchinson having driven to cover for 4 hooked to long leg next ball where Lee moving in, held a skier with aplomb, 61-8.

Brassell, recently returned from the World Cup with Namibia, had driven off the back foot through cover & looked the part. But at 62 in the 26^th Sean claimed his 5 fer as Stuart (0) was bowled, 9 down. Brassell straight drove & pulled Rogers for 4 but in attempting to hook, skied to square leg where Hewi made good ground in to take  the catch, 74 all out in 29 overs; Tom 4-25, Sean 5-21, Oli 1-7.

In reply, Birty & Sol faced the seam of Brassell (Grove) & Waterson (Park). Birty cover drove & pulled consecutive boundaries off Waterson in the 6^th over, & then in his next Sol hit 4x4 off Waterson authentically to third man, cover & mid wicket & an edge past the w/k.

But in Brassell's next, the 7^th ' Birty (17) edged to Drissell at 2^nd slip & next ball Nik (0) edged to w/k Youldon, 38-2. Sol survived a chance to point in the 8^th but then pulled Brasell to mid wicket twice in over 9.

Stuart (sla) entered the attack in over 11. Hewi was watchful, 20 balls for 1, then edged to third man for 4 but after Sol had swept for 4, Hewi struck Stuart straight for 6 in the 15th.

The winning runs came after 4 balls of the 16^th Sol 41*, (40b, 8x4), Hewi 12* (27b, !x4 1x6) a comprehensive win by 8 wickets but perhaps not as stern a test as would have been wished before the national v Woodlands on Sunday.

22 points sees the Bulls climb to third on 132 points 30 adrift of leaders Burnmoor & 11 behind Ashington in second spot.

PS: Having got a first baller, Nik spent 90 minutes in a net after the game to get back into the groove, others chose relaxation. His dedication would be partly rewarded one day later.

              ECB NATIONAL CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP REGIONAL FINAL

            Sunday 23^rd June 2024: SNCC v Woodlands (h) 40/40 1300.

SNCC 124ao (34.3 o) Nik Gorantla 44, Chris Hewison 15, Sean Tindale 32, Jonny Wightman 9: Muhammad Bilal 1-16, Elliot Richardson 2-39, Tom Clee 1-17, Scott Richardson 0-10, Brad Schmulian 2-20, Kez Ahmed 3-15.

Woodlands 126-3 (23o) Liam Collins 36, Tim Jackson 20, Alex Kaye 32, Kieran Collins 23*: Tom Rogers 0-31, Jonny Wightman 0-20, Sean Tindale 1- 29, Oli McGee 1-32, Lee Crozier 1-9.

Woodlands won by 7 wickets.

The biggest game of the season in a competition SNCC like to do well in came to an abrupt halt as Woodlands showed all the skills required, a  consistent, all round bowling attack, very sharp fielding especially in the ring, good catching, a couple of lbw decisions that went in their favour & then positive batting to sweep to a 7 wicket win in only 23 overs chasing a modest 123.

On another sunny day, the Bulls won the toss & chose to bat on the same wicket that was used for only 45 overs in the league match the day before, an interesting decision.

Birty & Sol faced Bilal (lm) & E Richardson (rm). Sol (1) fell in the second over as an intended pull skied to cover where Jackson took the easy catch, 2-1. Nik stroked E Richardson through cover twice in the 4^th over but Bilal bowled well conceding only 7 in 4 overs.

Nik repeated 2x4 in the 8^th cutting & pulling E Richardson & then when brother Scott entered the attack in over10, pulling & driving to long off, 38-1 after 10 overs. He survived a hard hit chance to point in the 12^th but the momentum & intent was there.

In over 11 Birty (7) drove new bowler Clee (rm) to cover point where S Richardson took a straightforward catch, 40-2. Hewi took 2,4,2 off Clee in the 13th. Schmulian's leg breaks took over at the Grove in over 15 & in his next Hewi (15, 22b 1x4), at full stretch, was surprisingly adjudged lbw,  68-3.

Ahmed's off spin entered in over 18 & after straight driving for 4 Nik (44, 56b, 7x4) had the misfortune to sky an intended pull presenting an easy catch on the leg side. In the next, the 20th, Bilal had the fortune to gain another lbw decision as Cragg (0) pushed forward, it seemed to hit him high; 76-5 at drinks, in a hole.

Schmulian & Ahmed then bowled overs 22-30 for 23 runs & the wickets of Rogers (6) inadvertently checking a drive off Ahmed to point where E Richardson, diving to his right, took a good low catch, 86-6. Peyton (1) was beaten & bowled by a full pitch from Schmulian in the 27^th & in the next over McGee (0), on the back foot, was bowled by Ahmed with one that may have kept low, 93-8.

Sean had been watchful, taking singles amid this disappointing mayhem but in over 29 he struck 2,4 off Schmulian to point & over extra cover. Wightman dabbed & ran well & he & Sean put on 24 for the 9^th wicket which ended when Jonny, aiming to return for 2 could not beat the K Collins's throw from cover to the bowler's end, 117-9.

In E Richardson's next, Sean struck a straight 6 but perished next ball caught by Clee at long off, 123 all out in 34.3 overs. Sean 32 (49b, 1x4 1x6) a vital contribution. Those watching were disappointed to see the Bulls not show their pedigree & sufficient application on an important day.

In reply, the left handed pair of Liam Collins & Tim Jackson faced the seam of Tom Rogers & Jonny Wightman. An opening maiden but 9 off Jonny's first including 4 leg byes.13 off the 3^rd as Collins cut twice & 5 wides sailed down the legside past Rob's despairing dive.

Were we trying too hard ? Sol & Oli fielded well at point & third man. 44-0 after 8 overs then Sean's first delivery was hooked by Jackson for 6 to backward square leg. In the next, Collins cut & drove Rogers through the off side. 66-0 after 10 overs as Collins continued to find spaces behind square on the offside.

Oli entered the attack in over 13 & his last ball gained an lbw decision against L Collins 36, (45b 6x4), a positive innings. In the next over Jackson 2o (24b 3x4 1x6) was wonderfully held left-handed, low by a diving Rob off Sean ,70-2.

Kaye & K Collins pushed on, running well, cutting, cover driving & steering to third man such that the total rose to 98 after 17 overs. Lee Crozier began a spell in the 18^th but the runs continued as slight variations of length were attacked. 116 after 21 overs & then in the next, the adventurous Kaye 32 (39b, 3x4) was lbw to Crozier attempting to reverse.

In the 23^rd K Collins struck Oli over long on for 6 & with the last ball of the over, drove straight for 4 to win the game, K Collins 23* (28b 3x4,1x6) Long 0*.

Not a good day for the Bulls who were well short of their best & defeated by a better team who executed their skills to perfection. A cautionary tale  & a need to bounce back with another demanding weekend ahead.

Fri 28^th June NEPL T20 ¼ final SNCC v Burnopfield (h) 20/20

Sat 29^th June NEPL Premier Division SNCC v Felling (a) 110o w/l/d

Sun 30^th June Banks 100 Salver, Group H - Hetton Lyons/Ashington/SNCC at Hetton Lyons from 1100.

We hope you can come along to support the team.

Duncan.