BULLS OVERCOME SUNDERLAND TO LAND MUCH NEEDED VICTORY:  CAPTAIN'S KNOCK FROM RU

18th Jun 2023

  NEPL Division 2: Sat 17^th June 2023: SNCC v Sunderland (a) 105o

Sunderland 170ao (54o) Michael Cooney 70, Kyle Hutchinson 16, Jonthan Winslow 29: Allan Davidson 3-24, Gavin Paton 1-26, Sadiq Khan 1-33, George Gray 1-16, Nathan Gough 0-23, James Lunn 2-27, Ru Fletcher 2-15.

SNCC 174-6 (46.3o) Angus Southern 16, Jacob McCord 39, Ru Fletcher 67*, James Lunn 15: Haseeb Yaqoob 2-22, Phil Smith 2-43, Callum Hutchinson 0-34, Louis Dinsdale 0-30, Milo Coates 0-13, Michael Cooney 1-20, Senthooran Jeyakanthan 1-2.

SNCC won by 4 wickets - 24 points, Sunderland 4.

A much needed win for the 2's at Ashbrooke based on a good bowling performance, particularly up front from Allan & Gavin, followed by a captain's knock from Ru well supported by Jacob in a partnership of 84 for  the 5^th wicket.

The home team were invited to bat on a warm yet humid day, a dry wicket seemed on the slow side. Dinsdale & left handed Jeyakanthan faced the right arm seam of Allan & Gavin. 12-0 off 10 overs Gavin going for only 2 in his first 7 overs.

At 17 Dinsdale (12) drove Allan to short extra cover where Ru took the catch. At 24 in the 17^th Jeyakanthan (10), sweeping George, saw w/k Sam take a very good catch off an inside edge. Singh (0) missed a cut off Sadiq to be bowled at the same score, 24-3.

At 64 K Hutchinson (16) inside edged Lunny to be bowled, 64-4. Cooney had started positively but at 94 Coates (11), aiming to hit Lunny, was stumped by Sam. One run later captain Yaqoob (0) charged & chipped back to bowler Ru, 95-6.

Cooney & Winlow fashioned a nice partnership of 60 for the 7th wicket until Winlow (29) was bowled between bat & pad by the returning Allan, 155-7. Cooney (70, 89b,7x4, 1x6) had batted well but at 166 he hit Ru to deep mid wicket where Gavin took a neat catch. Two runs later C Hutchinson (2) chopped on to Ru & at 170 Madhuraj (9) was caught by George at mid wicket off Gavin. 170 all out in 54 overs, a good all round bowling & fielding performance on a slow surface.

Alex C & Sam Ewart faced the right arm seam of Yaqoob & Smith. At 10 Sam (1) edged Yaqoob behind. At 12 Alex (10), driving, was well held, low at mid off by Yaqoob off Smith. At 21 Nathan, aiming to hit, drove back to the bowler Yaqoob who held the chance. At 43 Angus (16) hit a full toss hard to bowler Smith who caught it, one handed, on follow through, 43-4.

From these unpromising depths, Jacob & Ru rebuilt. Pacing well but hitting the bad ball, with Ru the more fluent, the total had reached 127 when Jacob (39, 84b, 6x4) aiming to drive, chipped back to bowler Cooney. A valuable innings reining in his natural wish to attack.

Lunny joined Ru, who had reached a deserved 50, & the pair batted sensibly with overs to spare until at 161 Lunny (15) was lbw to Jeyakanthan. Sadiq (7*) & Ru saw the Bulls home after 3 balls of the 47^th over, Ru (67*, 99b, 9x4) a most pleasing, Captain's innings for the team.

Onward to Sat 24^th June when SNCC face Hetton Lyons (h) 1200, win/lose/draw, 105 overs. Another good performance required to push up the table from 10th. We hope you can be there to cheer the Bulls on.

Duncan.