BULLS TRIUMPHANT IN TOUGH CONDITIONS: GORANTLA'S STUNNING INNINGS.               FELLING & UMPIRES DID EVERYTHING TO GET THE GAME ON

22nd Aug 2023

         Sat 19^th Aug 2023: NEPL Premier Division: SNCC v Felling (a) 28/28

SNCC 179-7 (28o) Shayne Moseley 30, Nikhil Gorantla 97, Rob Peyton 13, Adam Cragg 21*; Seb Allison 3-37, Elliott Fox 0-12, Paul Leonard 0-20, Chris Goudie 3-36, Travis Norris 1-39, Daniel Donaldson 0-31

Felling 106 ao (24.4o)  Andrew Whaits 33, Tyler Easton 20, Daniel Donaldson 15*; Jonny Wightman 1-22, Sean Tindale 1-23, Calum Fletcher 1-10, Oli McGee 3-23, Lee Crozier 3-25

SNCC won by 73 runs - 24 points; Felling 3

All praise to Felling who worked tirelessly from Wednesday onwards, when their High Heworth Lane ground was under water, to try to get the game on for their Sponsor's Day & to umpires Peter Young & Neil Burdon for their patience & willingness to do the same. The conditions were far from ideal.

A 1500 hours start was agreed with 28 overs/side. The Bulls were invited to bat, 170 the target. Shayne & Birty faced the seam of Allison & Fox. The first ball on a length rose to disappear over Shayne's shoulder, not quite the thing you usually find in the West Indies!

A single from the second ball but Birty (0) edged Allison to w/k Hurst from the 3rd. Nik joined Shayne &, in difficult batting conditions, the pair assembled an outstanding partnership of 101 for the 2^nd wicket. Shayne pushing ones & twos & Nik demonstrating sublime stroke play, playing late, judging the length & executing some thrilling shots.

The score rose slowly, 20 after 6 overs including the first boundary to Nik off Fox. The introduction of Leonard & Goudie saw the score accelerate as Nik hit boundaries in each of the next 4 overs & his first 6 off Leonard in the 11th, 57-1. Another boundary to Nik in the 14^th & after 17 overs the score was 83-1. In the next Nik hit his 2^nd 6 off Norris.

Shayne had battled hard & valued his wicket & in over 19 hit his only boundary before lofting high down the ground in the next for Donaldson to take the catch, an excellent supporting innings, Shayne 30 (55b,1x4), 103 -2 after 20 overs. Rob Peyton joined Nik who took 2,4,6 off Allison's returning over & then 6,6 off Norris's next, 130-2 after 22 overs.

Rob struck 2 & 4 & Nik another 6 from Donaldson's first, 144-2 after 23 overs. In over 24 Nik's outstanding innings closed as he mistimed to deep cover where Mustard held the catch off Goudie. Nik 97 (75b, 6x4,6x6) . " Stunning", " Nik's innings was only slightly less miraculous than getting the game on" his team mates said, a truly memorable knock, 677 league runs so far in 12 innings, 4 games to go, 147-3, 

8 off over 25 as Craggy hit a boundary off Allison. At 157 Rob (13) skied to Fox off Goudie, 157-4. Sean (2) edged Allison to w/k Hurst & Oli (0) perished first ball skying to Leonard off Allison, 164-6 with one over to go. Craggy struck a huge 6, over a house roof to mid wicket, then 2,1 before Sam (0) charged & missed. 179-7 at the close, Adam 21* (14b,2x4,1x6), a target set.

Norris & Mustard faced Wightman (Lane) & Tindale (Pavilion). 7-1 after 3 balls of Sean's first over as he bowled Norris (6) with one that did a bit. Calum bowled over number 6 & Oli over 8. 28-1 after 7 but in the next Mustard (9) was bowled by Calum.

Lee began a spell from the road, Whaits & Easton pushed the score along, 63-2 after 16, but in the 18^th Whaits 33(57b, 3x4) was lbw to McGee. In lee's next Easton 20 (37b) was caught at long on by Sean & two balls later Allison's (0) attacking intent saw him bowled by Lee, 73-5.

Hurst (5) was lbw to Oli in the 19th, 83-6. In the 21st, Metcalfe (2) charged Lee, who bowled it slightly wider, & he was stumped by Rob, 86-7. 87-8 as Leonard (1) was caught by Jonny off Oli & although Donaldson (15*) struck some blows Goudie (1) succumbed to a smart leg side stumping by Rob off Jonny, 106 all out in the 25^th over.  A very effective performance, bowling straight &, in partnership, applying relentless pressure which, on this day, Felling could not counter.

24 points for the Bulls who now have a 74 point lead in the Premier Division with 4 games to go. A tough Bank Holiday weekend coming up:

Sat 26^th August SNCC v Ashington (h) who are 5th

Mon 28^th August SNCC v Chester-le-Street (a) who are 4th

Then :

Sat 2^nd Sept SNCC v Castle Eden (a) who are 6th

Sat 9^th Sept SNCC v Hetton Lyons (h) who are 11th, the last league game.

We hope you can be there to see if the winning run can continue.

Duncan.