BULLS MIXED WEEKEND: VICTORY IN THE 100, DEFEAT IN THE LEAGUE.

26th Jul 2024

        BULLS MIXED WEEKEND: VICTORY IN THE 100, DEFEAT IN THE LEAGUE.

Fri 19^th July 2024 SNCC v Eppleton (a) Banks 100 Salver ¼ final

SNCC 139-8 (100b) Chris Hewison 38, Rob Peyton 21, Adam Cragg 27, Sol Bell 33: Praveen de Silva 3-18, Kieran O'Connor 2-30, Jake Pratt 1-31, Callum Steel 0-23, George Fairbairn 1-35.

Eppleton 103ao (91b) Dean Musther 24, Callum Steel 35, Praveen de Silva 18: Gavin Paton 1-23, George Gray 1-17, Oli McGee 3-24, Simon Birtwisle 3-21, Gregor Pearce 1-17, Joe Dresser 1-0.

SNCC won by 36 runs- go through to finals day, Mon 26^th August.

Unusual things sometimes happen-----a delayed start by 13 minutes as a swarm of bees had to be removed from the face of the scoreboard ! The wicket was cut down the hill towards the Pavilion side offering a 40 yard boundary.

The Bulls, who gave 1^st X1 cup debuts to George Gray, Gregor Pearce & Joe Dresser, won the toss & chose to bat. Birty & Hewi faced the spin attack of de Silva (sla) & O'Connor (ob).

5-1 after 13 balls as Birty (2) swept but missed to be lbw to O'Connor. 17-2 after 20 balls as Nik (9), attempting a third boundary in succession, was bowled by O'Connor. 3 balls later Oli (0) defending, succumbed, bowled by Pratt, 23-3.

A handy partnership of 47 between Hewi & Rob saw the score rise to 70 after 58 balls when Hewi's quick, legside single was anticipated by the w/k who threw down the non striker's stumps, Hewi (38, 29b 4x4 1x6) pivotal again. 12 balls later Rob (21, 25b, 2x4) attacking, was bowled by Fairbairn, 78-5, (70b) & a need to accelerate.

A dynamic partnership of 60 between Adam & Sol provided the impetus. In the last set of 5 deliveries from de Silva, Adam (27, 16b, 1x4, 2x6) was bowled, next ball Gavin (0) lunged & was also bowled & from the 100^th ball Sol (33, 16b, 2x4, 3x6), as with Adam, a positive, attacking knock, was stumped as he advanced; 138-9, seemed a par score on the wicket.

In reply Pratt & Jefferson faced the seam of Paton & the spin of Gray. Jefferson (0) was caught by Sol at mid wicket off the 4^th ball. George bowled his first 10b for 11. Musther attacked but at 25 in the 5^th Pratt (7) was bowled by Oli, swishing. The 6^th set was bowled by Gregor & 4^th ball he gained an lbw decision against an unhappy Musther (24, 21b, 3x6), an important wicket.

Steel was equally adventurous & but at 82 in the 14^th Birty's second set, he was bowled (35, 24b 2x4 3x6). This became 90-5 (70b) as O'Connor was also bowled by Birty, sweeping. Brown (2) was caught & bowled by George at 95. Pressure on for 3 balls later de Silva (18)  launched to long on & was caught by Sol. Three balls later Bute (1) was bowled by Oli, 8  down. Johnson (0) was bowled by Birty after 88 balls & the last wicket went to Joe Dresser.

His first ball in 1^st X1 cricket was prodded to cover by Wilson (1) and Adam took a comfortable catch. On the night the spells of Gregor (11 dots in 20b), George (10 dots in 20 balls) & Birty (13 dots in 20 balls) were crucial.

Onward to 100 Salver finals day on Mon 26^th August with Burnmoor, Whitburn & Benwell Hill at a venue to be confirmed.

BEN HARMISON & ASHINGTON TAKE THE HONOURS AS BULLS                                                              BATTING FAILS TO FIRE.

                           Sat 21^st July 2024: NEPL Premier Division: 

                                    SNCC v Ashington (a) 110o w/l/d

SNCC 181ao (54.1o) Simon Birtwisle 21, Chris Hewison 23, Sean Tindale 80, Adam Cragg 12, Jonny Wightman 21, George Gray 8*: Matthew Collins 1-33, Alex Nice 2-47, Cam Nichols 0-22, Ben Harmison 3-14, James Harmison 1-43, Ian Sharkey 1-18.

Ashington 184-3 (40o) Jack Jessop 24, Jack McCarthy 62 *, Cam Nichols 50, Ben Harmison 38 *: Jonny Wightman 1-33, Sean Tindale 0-29, Oli McGee 0-52, Gavin Paton 1-34, George Gray 0-23, Simon Birtwisle 0-10.

Ashington won by 7 wickets - 25 points, SNCC 3.

After the depths of 88-8, partnerships of 34 between Jonny & Sean for the 9^th & of 59 between Sean & George  for the 10^th were heroic but ultimately insufficient to prevent the home side from concluding a 7 wicket win in the 40th over of their reply. Ben Harmison with 3 wickets, a catch, a run out & an undefeated 38 in 16 balls took the honours.

The Bulls chose to bat but at 7-2 in the 4^th over got off to the worst possible start. Sol, defending (6) was bowled by Collins in the 3^rd & Nik (0) edged to second slip off Nice in the 4th. Birty & Hewi rebuilt steadily, the rate at 3's. But at 51 in the 16^th Hewi (23, 40b, 4x4) seemed mightily unlucky to be adjudged lbw to Ben Harmison. Two overs & 3 runs later Birty (21, 50b 3x4) was bowled by one that seemed to keep low, Ben Harmison again the bowler.

Sean & Adam began again but at 73 in the 25^th a good piece of boundary fielding & a swift throw to w/k McCarthy saw Adam's attempt to take 3 thwarted as he raced back to the striker's end. In the next over Ru Fletcher (0) edged James Harmison (ob) to McCafferty at slip, 74-6.

88-7 in the 34^th as Oli (6) was defeated by an excellent throw from Ben Harmison near the boundary. 5 balls later Gavin (0) hit his first ball, a full toss, back to Sharkey, the bowler, who took a good, high catch in one hand on follow through, 88-8 in the 35th.

Enter a determined Jonny Wightman and he & Sean put on 34 for the 9^th wicket, Jonny taking consecutive boundaries off Sharkey in the 37th. But at 122 in the 42^nd Jonny (21, 38b, 2x4) edged Nice to w/k McCarthy. George Gray batted at 11, but he is not a number 11, & in company with Sean (30*) the pair put on 59 for the 10^th wicket in 12 overs. Sean struck 4x6  with George playing straight & running well. From the first ball of the 55^th over Sean was caught at deep gully off Ben Harmison for a superb 80, (107b, 2x4 4x6), George's resolute  8* (30b) very commendable.

In reply Jessop & Nichol faced Wightman & Tindale. At 13 in the 5^th Nichol (3) edged Wightman to w/k Cragg. At 41 in the 13^th Jessop (24, 47b 3x4) also edged to w/k Adam off Paton. At 43 in the 16^th an impassioned appeal for a catch behind as McCarthy seemed to edge Paton, Adam flying high to his right to take a superb grab one handed &, after the umpires conferred, was turned down deeming a bump ball.

In the next 5 overs only 5 runs were scored as Oli & Gavin bowled tightly. Thereafter a slight increase in the rate despite several bowling changes so that when tea was taken after 28 overs the score was  99-2 McCarthy 31*, Nichols 36*.

The steady rate continued until at 136 in the 35^th Nichols (50, 57b 10x4) was run out as Sol produced an excellent throw. A positive innings of intent which was then matched by Ben Harmison. He settled & then in the 38^th struck Oli straight for 4x4, 162 -3. In the next Jonny was dispatched for 4 then 6 &, in what turned out to be the final over, Oli conceded 10. Jack McCarthy 62* (117b, 7x4), Ben Harmison 38* (16b, 6x4 1x6), emphatic at the end, a win by 7 wickets cementing second spot & leaving the Bulls in 8th.

Our talented team is not firing at the moment. We need to restore some self belief. Tough games to come beginning with:

Sat 27^th July  SNCC v Castle Eden (a) 1130 110o w/l/d.

Sat 3^rd    August SNCC v Chester-le-Street (h) 1130 110o w/l/d

Sat 10^th  August SNCC v Newcastle (a) 1130 110o w/l/d

Sat 17^th  August SNCC v Burnmoor (h) 1200 win/lose 90o

We hope you can be there to offer your support.

Duncan.