BULLS TAME LYONS: ACADEMY WIN LAST OVER THRILLER

5th Jun 2023

 NEPL Sunday Division 1: 4^th June 2023: SNCC v Hetton Lyons (h) 40/40

Hetton Lyons 224-9 (40o) Dan Walker 29, Tom Lawson 82, David Lowther 40*: Joe Dresser 2-43, Jack Netts 1-23, David Cragg 3-2, Sam Ewart 1-38, Zac Henderson 0-27, Aaditya Bethanabatla 0-19, Gregor Pearce 2-49, George McConnell 0-19.

SNCC Academy 225-5 (39.2o) Charlie Wilson 47, Will Carr 46, Gregor Pearce 68*, Aaditya Bethanabatla 17, Jack Netts 8*: Jack Hedley 1-16, Dan Walker 2-38, Owen Hayton 1-47, Ethan Dixon 0-43, Alex Birbeck 1-36, Sonny Lowther 0-24.

SNCC won by 5 wickets - 19 points, Hetton Lyons 7.

On a warm, sunny day the Lyons were invited to bat, a shortish boundary to the Moor Road side. Alex Birbeck & Jack Hedley faced the seam of Joe Dresser & Jack Netts. A good opening spell from both saw Hedley (12) edge high to long leg off Jack where Joe took the catch, 18-1.

At 33 Birbeck (5) looped Joe to mid-on where George took the catch & one run later Hayton (10) was caught by Gregor also off Joe, 34-3. David Cragg & Sam Ewart started spells & it was David who mesmerised, taking 3-2 in 3 overs. At 53 Dixon (18) was bowled, at 55, Sonny Lowther (1) was well held by Sam at deep square leg & Vout (0) bowled at the same score.

A fight back by Walker & Tom Lawson especially when Zac & Aaditya dropped a little short, targeting the short boundary.  a confident lbw appeal from Gregor, Lawson continued to plunder & the score had reached 174, an excellent partnership of 119, when Walker (29,65b,3x4) advanced & was stumped by Aaryan off Gregor. Diatz (0) was then bowled by Gregor at 182.

At 188, Sam returned to capture the important wicket of Lawson, bowled for 82 (78b, 13x4, 1x6), 9 down. David Lowther then attacked every ball scoring 40* (17b, 3x4, 4x6) to give the visitors a handy total of 224 to defend.

The plan was 90-2 after 20 overs & the Bulls got to 100. Aaryan & Charie faced Hedley & Walker. Aaryan (4) was caught by Lawson off Hedley at 18 & George (7) by Hayton off Walker at 25. Then a splendid partnership of 66 between Charlie & Will, rotating regularly to keep the scoreboard moving & punishing the bad ball.

At 91 Charlie (47, 70b, 4x4), a very good innings for the team, was c & b by Birbeck. Will & Gregor continued to run well, rotate, take the 1's & 2's such that the rate was close to the 6's needed. Will's level headed & mature batting, came to an end at 158 when he was caught by Walker off Hayton, (46,68b,6x4), another outstanding innings for the team.

Gregor was joined by Aaditya & again they rotated the strike continuously taking the score to 211 when Aadi (17) was bowled by Walker, ending another significant partnership of 53. Gregor's first day of captaincy was getting better & a first senior 50 was achieved! 

Pushing on with Jack (8*), the pair played risk free, tip & run to win the game after 2 balls of the final over. Gregor's 68* (60b,8x4,1x6) a match winning knock, his highest ever score, in a good, all round team performance.

Currently top of Sunday Division 1 on 46 points, with a long way to go, the Academy visit Philadelphia on Sun 11^th June. We hope you can be there as the Bulls march on !

Duncan.