BULLS STAY IN DIV 2 3RD SPOT WITH DOMINANT VICTORY OVER SUNDERLAND.

2nd Sep 2023

   BULLS STAY IN DIV 2 3RD SPOT WITH DOMINANT VICTORY OVER SUNDERLAND.

SNCC 272ao (50o): Nick Tomlinson 65, Angus Southern 23, Alex Weetman 55, Ru Fletcher 50, Sadiq Khan 22: Jack Stead 2-59, Jeberson Arulthas 0-33, Milo Coates 2-51, Sam Reddel 3-52, Dan Rajiv 1-34, Bruce Pritchard 2-40.

Sunderland 99ao (32.3o) John Gillon 26, Jon Winlow 15, Jeberson Arulthas 13, Jack Stead 9: Gavin Paton 0-16, Josephine Nkomo 2-14, Ben Hobbs 2-14, George Gray 2-37, Sadiq Khan 1-13.

SNCC won by 173 runs- 24points, Sunderland 4.

A gloriously sunny day greeted the visitors from Sunderland for the last 2's home match of the season. SN won the toss & chose to bat. Left-handed Nick Tomlinson & Charlie Wilson faced the seam of Jack Stead & Jeberson Arulthas.

A steady start but at 16, Charlie (3) was lbw to Stead. Angus took advantage of full tosses to move to 23 (13b, 4x4) before he was bowled by Stead, 44-2. The bowling was not demanding & there followed an enterprising stand of 112 between Nick & Alex W. Nick hitting through the offside regularly & Alex driving fluently down the ground. 

At 156 Nick 65, (97b,7x4) slog sweeping, was bowled by one that turned from leg spinner Pritchard. 8 runs later Alex 55 (79b,5x4) was c & b driving Rajiv's off breaks, 164-4. George McConnell (5) was caught by Singh off Pritchard at 178, 5 down.

Ru & Sadiq then put together a lively partnership of 61 before Sadiq 22 (21b,2x4) was very well caught by Arulthas, 239-6. 7 runs later Ru 50 (41b,8x4) mistimed a pull which lobbed to be caught Coates off Reddel, 246-7.

Gavin 11 (1x6) bowled, Ben (5) & Josephine (1) both caught, succumbed in the search for a final flourish which saw the innings close at 272 all out after 50 overs. 

Gillon & Pritchard faced the right arm seam of Paton & Nkomo. At 28 Pritchard (8) drove Josephine to mid-on where Sadiq took the catch. Next ball, Rajiv was lbw, 28-2. At 52 opener Gillon (26) was bowled by Ben Hobbs, bowling briskly, with one that nipped back.

At 64 Winlow (15) aiming to hit Sadiq's leg spin, was bowled,5 down. 6 down at 72 when Singh (2) was run out by Sadiq who rolled the ball towards the stumps for a bail to be dislodged! 

At 78 Lal (3) was bowled by George Gray. Arulthas (13) showed some power but then edged to slip off George at 89, 8 down. Stead became the second run out of the innings as Sadiq, again, rolled the ball at the stumps to affect the run out with the batter stranded. 99 all out an injury prevented an 11^th batting.

The weather was sublime! This win ensures the 2's retain 3^rd spot in NEPL Division 2 on 292 points with one game to go on Sat 9^th Sept 2023, SNCC v Hetton Lyons (a) 1200, 50/50.

In the evening there will be a chance to celebrate the end of a successful 2023 season, in the traditional manner, back at SNCC. We hope you can join us.

Duncan.