BULLS TAME LYONS IN DOMINANT DISPLAY

27th Jun 2023

NEPL Premier Division: Sat 24^th June 2023: SNCC v Hetton Lyons (a) 110o

SNCC 286-7 dec (51o) Simon Birtwisle 42, Shayne Moseley 100, Nikhil Gorantla 58, Chris Hewison 34, Adam Cragg 31*: Chris Ralston 0-39, Oliver Watt 3-76, Aaron Feroz 2-67, Robert Talbot 1-53, Marcus Farquharson 0-26, Jack Hedley 0-13.

Hetton Lyons 91ao (26.5o) Jonny Wightman 1-34, Sean Tindale 3-35, Calum Fletcher 3-11, Oli McGee 0-6, Lee Crozier 2-2.

SNCC won by 195 runs - 30 points, Hetton Lyons 3.

A dominant batting display by the Bulls; an ebullient Birty 42, a measured Moseley 100, a sublime Gorantla 58, a bedrock Hewi 34, an explosive Adam 31 was followed by an equally effective bowling & fielding display as the Lyons succumbed in just 26.5 overs; three wickets for Sean & Calum, 2 in 2 for Lee, now on a hat trick, another superb, leg side stumping from Rob & a great catch by Nik.!!

 One crucial wicket for Jonny who now needs 9 more to become only the 7^th bowler to reach 500 NEPL 1^st X1 league wickets & deservedly join Crozier, Bridge, Waite, Muchall, Humble & Pollard.

On a warm day at Lilywhite Terrace, the Bulls were invited to bat, the outfield was quick. Birty & Shayne faced the seam of Ralston & Watt. Birty began positively hitting 2x4 through the covers in the first over off Ralston. Going at 5's, Shayne took 2x4 off Ralston in the 5^th & 6+4 off Watt in the 8th. Feroz's spin was introduced in the 9^th over but the rate stayed at 5's.

A piece of luck for Shayne in the 12th as a stumping chance was missed off Talbot but both continued to score freely until at 87 in the 17^th Birty (42,43b,6x4) drove hard at a widish delivery but edged to w/k Martin standing up off Talbot; Shayne 42* at the same stage.

In recent weeks, Nik's batting has been sublime & he continued in the same vein. 3x4 off Farquharson's leg spin then, in over 24, 3x4 past point as Talbot's length was only a touch awry. Lunch was reached after over 30 with the score at 157-1, Shayne 67* Nik 44*.

Feroz & Talbot continued after the break but having used his feet to drive Talbot straight for 6 in the 44^th Nik, (58,62b, 6x4,2x6) mishit high into the offside to be caught by Hedley over extra cover off Feroz, 179-2 in the 35th.

The field was spread, singles were taken & the score rose steadily to be 201 in the 39th. Watt returned to the attack, in company with Feroz, but suffered, Shayne hitting over extra cover for 6 in the 44th. 

At 239 in the 47^th Shayne took a single to reach an outstanding100 (136b,9x4,3x6) in only his second innings for the Bulls. From the first ball of the next over Watt bowled him as he swung. Rob (0) did the same two balls later & Sean (2) followed at 243; at 251 Hewi (34, 57b, 1x4) was bowled aiming a blow at Feroz in the 51st. The declaration was nigh.

Oil entered & hit his second ball for 6 over mid-wicket. What turned out to be the last over saw Adam at his most destructive.... Watt disappearing for 6,2,6,6,6,2 three maximums to mid-wicket but one over wide long off, a remarkable shot. Coming back for three from the last ball of that over, Oli (6, 2b) was run out. The declaration came after 52 overs.

Walker & left-handed, England U19 captain, McKinney faced Wightman & Tindale. At 7 in the 4^th Walker (6) edged Sean, who was bowling rapidly, to w/k Rob. Clay employed the scoop & was successful in taking three boundaries off Jonny in the 5th.

In the 9^th with the score at 37, Jonny found a beautiful inswinger to bowl the left-handed McKinney (5), 2 down. One over later Scott (3) mishit Sean to mid-wicket where Calum took the catch & next ball, he pinned Martin (0) lbw, 4 down.

Amid all this Jarvis Clay had been taking scoring opportunities but after 14 overs a bowling change saw the introduction of Calum Fletcher who proceeded to bowl a good length for 5 overs for 11 & take three wickets. Clay (51, 44b,8x4) had been the only Lyons bat to prosper but, aiming to steer to third man, missed & was bowled by Calum at 76.

Three balls later Ralston (0) was superbly stumped down the leg side by Rob. In the 20th, with Talbot on strike, Farquharson (0) set off to return for a second but Talbot's refusal & Shayne's quick pick up & throw from mid off defeated his effort to return to the w/king end. In over 21 Talbot (11) shaped to leave a ball from Calum & lost his off stump, 8 down. 

4 overs from Oli for 6 runs but then at 91 in the 26^th Lee took two in two balls courtesy of a fine diving catch by Nik at long off to dismiss Feroz (6) & and then trapping Watt (0) in front, a first ball lbw.

A comprehensive, 30-point win that helps the Bulls retain top spot by 48 points from next week's visitors, second placed, Chester le Street, who are playing well.

We hope you can be there to cheer the Bulls on. for the best game of the day in the NEPL.

For your diary:

Friday 30^th June T20 ¼ final: SNCC v Burnmoor or Felling (h) 1800,20/20

Sat 1^st July NEPL Premier Division: SNCC v Chester le Street (h) 1100, 110o, w/l/d.

Duncan