BULLS MARCH ON WITH WIN AT JESMOND

8th Aug 2018

NEPL PREMIER DIVISION 16/22 Sat 4th August 2018.

NEWCASTLE 137ao (51.4o) Kieran Trevaskis 38, Oli McGee 26: Sean Tindale 3-12, Richard Stanyon 3-19, Michael Craigs 2-29, Peter Borren 1-29, Lee Crozier 1- 45.

SNCC 141-6 (36.3o) Sean Tindale 52, Adam Cragg 29, David Edwards 23: Oli McGee 3-38, Ben Quirk 2-23.

SNCC win by 4 wickets 23 points N/C 3

The rain on Friday caused  late preparation at Jesmond & on winning the toss the visitors inserted their hosts on a wicket with some grass. Missing Wightman, Trevaskis, Peyton & Graham this would be a test of strength in depth in a bid to remain undefeated. Allen & McGee faced Tindale & Craigs. Parth Mannikar(17) made his seasonal appearance behind the stumps on a ground familiar to him.

At 10 in the 5th over Allen was caught by Mannikar off Tindale for 9, 10-1. Trevaskis & McGee built carefully, defending resolutely such that the score only rose to 30 in the 17th over before the introduction of Peter Borren. Tindale's opening spell from the Osborne Road end, finished one over later, 1-11 in 10 accurate overs with 4 maidens.

The breakthrough came when Borren persuaded McGee to miss time a pull to be caught by Doig at mid wicket for 26, 62-2 in the 28th. At 92 In the 35th, Trevaskis's 98 ball vigil ended with a catch by Tindale at long on off Crozier in his 7th over. Richard Stanyon, from the Cemetery end, then took 3 wickets in 6 overs for 19, Simpson (18) played on, Harding (5) was caught by Mannikar & Thompson (3) bowled by a yorker, to leave the hosts 102-6 in the 42nd. An important spell.

Du Toit (16), who had lost the strike, was taken by Cragg at short extra off a firm drive, 127-7 in the 48th. The innings subsided as the returning Tindale took 2 in 2 to return the impressive figures of 11-4-12-3 & Craigs bowled Shenton with the 4th ball of the 52 over. 137 all out, 58 overs to get them. Three neat catches for Parth & no byes.

The wicket had provided movement & some turn as Birtwisle & Tindale faced Harding & McGee. Birty was adjudged lbw in the 4th over to McGee, the first of 4 such decisions. Although Harding beat the bat & McGee threatened, a positive approach saw Edwards & Tindale put on 50 for the second wicket before Edwards (23) was caught by Trevaskis at point, cutting.

Borren succumbed to Quirk lbw for 8 but with Cragg positive & Tindale batting well, Simpson, who had replaced Harding in the 19th, went for 29 in 4, before Tindale was also adjudged lbw advancing to McGee for a splendid 52 (7x4, 1x6, 84b, 109mins), 109-4 in the 30th. Dale (0) became the 4th lbw victim, three of those to McGee, & Cragg (29) was yorked by Harding at 131. After a nervy passage, Doig (9*) & Craigs(5*) saw the Bulls home, winning in the 37th over by 4 wickets.

23 points & a lead of 43 over CLS. Onward to the Club t20 Area finals at Hanging Heaton in the morning!!

Duncan D. Stephen.