BULLS RUE MISSED CHANCES BUT BATTLE TO A DRAW AGAINST TYNEMOUTH.

13th Jun 2024

BULLS RUE MISSED CHANCES BUT BATTLE TO A DRAW AGAINST TYNEMOUTH.

NEPL Premier Division: Sat 8^th June 2024: SNCC v Tynemouth (h) w/l/d

                                                                 110 overs

Tynemouth 273-8 (58o) Stan McAlindon 81, Robbie Bowman 69, Matthew Brown 53, Freddie Harrison 25, Sean Longstaff 22*: Tom Rogers 4-66, Sean Tindale 1-46, Will Alexander 2-44, Oli McGee 1-29, Lee Crozier 0-67.

SNCC 173-8 (52o) Nik Gorantla 54, Sean Tindale 31, Tom Rogers 32*, Rob Peyton 15: Sean Longstaff 3-53, Owen Gourley 1-4, Matthew Brown 2-32, Josh Moors 0-28, Freddie Harrison 2-46.

Match drawn: win draw Tynemouth 17 points: lose draw SNCC 9.

After recent rain but on a sunny day, the Mariners were invited to bat. McAlindon & Debnam faced Rogers (Grove) & Tindale (Park). To the surprise (& dismay) of home supporters watching, in the first 10 overs the Bulls, untypically, missed 4 chances of varying degrees of difficulty.

Debnam (6) had a life in over 2 but succumbed in Sean's next, edging to w/k Rob, 13-1. Bowman skied to long leg in over 5 off Tom but the chance was not held. Next ball he retired not out after edging onto his helmet.

From the first ball of over 7, Brown mistimed a pull towards mid wicket but again the chance went begging. In over 10 McAlindon edged to 2^nd slip off Sean but was given a life. 41-1 after 10 overs when it could easily have been for 4.

The total of runs subsequently scored reads: Debnam +2, Bowman +69, Brown +52, McAlindon +63. A different game would have ensued. In the SN innings Tynemouth took all their catches.

As Oli & Will took up the attack Brown & McAlindon pushed the total to 79 after 20, a Crozier maiden. 118 after 28 overs then 3 wickets in 9 balls as Rogers bowled Brown (53,65b,6x4) ending an excellent partnership of 105 for the second wicket, persuaded Kimmett (0) to edge behind 3 balls later & in his next gained an lbw verdict against Moors (1), 120-4 at lunch after 30 overs.

Snowdon (3) was outstandingly caught by a diving Rob, as an inside edge from Tom diverted down the leg side, 132-5 in the 35th. Bowman returned & showed courage to take on the hook to long leg in over 37 which sailed for 6 then 4, both off Tom. McGee & Crozier in tandem between overs 40 & 48 saw the score rise to 199.

Will's second spell saw him end McAlindon's splendid innings (81, 133b,8x4, 1x6), beaten by a leg stump yorker first ball,199-6, but then suffer as Bowman took 22 off his next before holing out to deep mid wicket caught by Sol. Bowman, 15 years old, (69,67b,7x4,4x6) a brave & pivotal innings for his team, 230-7 after 51 overs.

Harrison & Longstaff (22*) were positive in the final 6 overs scoring off nearly every ball until Harrison (25) skied to cover off McGee in the last to be caught by Lee. 273-8; a winning draw was 245.

Birty & Sol faced the right arm seam of Longstaff & Gourley. 9-2 after 3 overs as Birty (1) drove Gourley wide of mid off where Longstaff made good ground to his left & pulled off a diving catch. In the next over, after a lovely straight drive, Sol (4) was bowled by Longstaff.

In over 9 Hewi (12) drove Longstaff to cover where Harrison took a neat low catch, 32-3. Nik & Sean consolidated. 78-3 after 20 overs, Nik 33* Sean19*. Brown (rm) making good use of the strong wind & but Moors (lb), after a maiden, not being allowed to settle.

Nik reached a good 50 in the 24^th but in the 27^th after Brown had swopped ends, mistimed a drive to mid on to be caught by a retreating Debnam. Nik's (54,72b, 8x4) ended a partnership of 78 for the 4^th wicket. Three overs later at 116, Sean (31,67b,1x4) seemed in two minds before 

edging Harrison to slip, 5 down.

Adam (4) was bowled by Brown as one swung in, 118-6 in the 33rd. Rob & Tom faced the spin tandem of Moors & Harrison & in the 40^th Rob (15) advanced, missed & was stumped by Bowman off Harrison, 139-7.

Longstaff returned & Harrison bowled two maidens. In the 45^th Oli (7) edged to third slip off Longstaff where Moors took a good low catch, 158-8. Time to battle & Tom (32*,54b,5x4) & Will (2, 23b) did just that resisting the last 7 overs to finish on 173-8.

A somewhat uncharacteristic, lack lustre display by the Bulls which leaves them in 7^th place in the Premier Division. Work to do!

An opportunity to bounce back with an important weekend ahead:

Sat 15^th June SNCC v Tynedale (a) 1130, w/l/d 110 overs

Sun 16^th June SNCC v Woodlands (h) Regional Final ECB National Club Championship 1300 40/40

Your support would be much appreciated.

Duncan.