BULLS SNATCH WINNING DRAW AGAINST THE HILL

20th Jul 2018

NEPL PREMIER DIVISION 13/22

BENWELL HILL 228ao (56.5o) Dale 65, Halliday 26, Heather 22, Snyman 21, Coetzer 19: Wightman 4-57, Stanyon 3-36, Birtwisle 1-47, Hodnett 1-20.

SNCC 215-8 (53o) Edwards 68, Birtwisle 40, Wightman 26*,Doig 19, Weetman 18, Cragg 15: Mussett 5-45, Coetzer 1-24, Hanley 1-61.

On the hottest day of the year, 25c, Benwell Hill chose to bat against a home team missing all rounders Trevaskis, claimed by Durham, Tindale & Craigs. Schofield & Heather faced Wightman & Crozier. Two clipped boundaries were the prelude to Schofield being yorked by Wightman for 10 in the 5th over. Snyman joined Heather & got to 21 comfortably enough before a wonderful stop by Cragg off a firm drive was followed by a catch next ball by the captain in the same place at short extra off Birtwisle, who had replaced Crozier at the Park end. 48-2 in the 14th.

Coetzer took three boundaries off Stanyon, who had replaced Wightman at the Grove end, before inside edging a drive off the same bowler to be caught by w/k Peyton, 67-3 in the 17th. When Heather succumbed, bowled by Hodnett for 22 in the23rd, the visitors were 82-4 with main men apparently gone.

Anderson batted nicely before  missing a low full toss to be lbw to Wightman at 111-5. Dale & Halliday then batted well building a partnership of 65 in 18 overs before Halliday seemed unlucky to be given run out for an important  26, 176-6 in the 47th. Dale continued before cutting Stanyon to Weetman at point for a very valuable 65 (9x4, 86 balls, 90 mins). 193-7 in the 51st.

Archbold (16), Hanley (7), Mussett (7*) & Kilpatrick (6) all batted positively to conclude on 228 ao after 56.5o, Wightman finishing with 4-57 from 15, Birtwisle 1-47 also 15, Stanyon 3-36 from 8.5, Hodnett 1-20 & Crozier, surprisingly wicketless, 0-61 from 15.

Birtwisle & Peyton faced Hanley & Mussett, 2 boundaries in the first over from Birty but Peyton, bat held high, yorked first ball by Mussett, 8-1 after 7 balls. Graham stroked two nice boundaries before edging to Dale off Mussett for 8. 27-2 in the 6th.

Enter David Edwards in only his 4th innings of the season. A leg bye was followed by three boundaries as Hanley's variable length was punished. Occasionally caught on the crease & using an inside edge profitably, he struck 11x4 in 50 driving, cutting & forcing through the covers off the back foot in style. Birty, for once in a slightly more supportive  role, had reached 40, with 8x4, when hesitation over a leg bye single led to an unfortunate run out as Coetzer's throw was a direct hit at the bowler's end, 115-3 in the 25th.

Edwards continued but was bowled by Coetzer for an outstanding 68 (14x4,76 balls, 85mins) at 126-4 in the 27th. Cragg & Weetman rebuilt to 155 before both fell within two balls, Weetman(18) skying an intended pull & Cragg unlucky to be adjudged lbw, both to Mussett from the Grove end, 155-6 in the 37th.

Stanyon(1) & Doig (19) seemed comfortable but the former hit to deep mid wicket off Mussett's last delivery, giving him an excellent 5-45, & the latter to short third man, 188-8 in the 45th. 8 overs to go, 213 an improbable winning draw total as Snyman returned & Kilpatrick continued a tidy spell, 8 overs for 24. 

But Wighters 26* (3x4,42 balls, 50 mins) can bat &, joined by Lee Crozier (1x4, 19 balls, 32 mins), no stranger to batting positions up the order in years gone by, showed fighting spirit & calmly, one JRW attempted hook falling safely in no man's land apart !, facing pro Snyman & the returning Hanley, compiled an unbeaten partnership of 28 to secure the winning draw with three singles in the last over. 15 points to 9. A 40 point lead over CLS with 9 hard games to go. The spirit seems strong!

Some milestones to reflect upon. Two weeks ago at Stockton when Lee c & b Tom Hewison, he took his 700th NEPL premier division wicket, the first to get there. Richard Waite is second on 575. When John got to 8 he passed Allan Worthy's all time NEPL aggregate run score total of 10451 by 2. Some 50 minutes later, when Birty got to 34 he did the same, finishing with 40 to be the leading all time scorer by 7. All magnificent achievements & a testament to their skill & determination to make the most of their undoubted talents for the team. We salute them !!

Next week sees a Tyneside Charity Bowl semi final at Percy Main (Wed 18th July) & on Saturday 21st July we welcome DCA to Roseworth Terrace, always a tough game against aspiring young talents. We must continue.

Duncan D. Stephen