BULLS TRIUMPHANT IN VITALITY NORTHUMBERLAND U19 T2O BLAST

2nd Sep 2019

On a Sunday 1st September finals day of changeable weather at Roseworth Terrace, SN U19's triumphed beating Tynedale in a close semi final before overcoming Alnmouth & Lesbury by 6 wickets in the final, reduced to 15 overs/side due to heavy rain around 1700, a game which finished in reasonable light at 1930.

First semi final: 

Tynedale: 117-9, (20o: Stephenson 28, Byerley 26, Watts 15: Ramesh 2-27, Varley 0-31, Jennings 1-27,  Ward 1-12, Fletcher 3-15 )

SN Bushwhackers 118-5, (18.4o: Varley 24, Jennings 18, Mannikar 13, Fletcher 11, Johnson G 10: Scott 2-20, Byerley 1-20, Newton 1-27, S Peter  1-21)

SN won by 5 wickets.

 After being put in Tynedale made a strong start with Stephenson & Byerley putting on 36 for the first wicket in only 6 overs when Stephenson (28, including 2 consecutive 6's) was bowled by Ramesh aiming another expansive drive. 15 runs & only two overs later, the dangerous Sam Peter (5) was wonderfully held by Eashan Ragbir making good ground in from fine leg, also off Ramesh.

At 76 in the 10th Brooks was caught by Guy Johnson off Matthew Jennings & three runs later opener Byerley (26) was caught & bowled by Ross Ward purveying useful off breaks on a good length, 4 overs 1-12 an excellent return. 79-4 in the 11th. As Watts rotated the strike others perished as Calum Fletcher bowled Pugh (6) & Scott (8) was run out via Ramesh, 103-6 in the 16th.

 The last 4 overs saw 14 runs added for the loss of Newton (0) bowled by Fletcher, Robson (4) caught by Max Walton also off Fletcher (3-15) whose pace was too much for the lower order. When Morrow was run out in the last over Watts remained undefeated on 15*. 117-9 from 20o including 14 wides.... too many !!

 Cal Fletcher & Guy Johnson opened & had taken the score to 22 when Fletcher (11) was caught by w/k Stephenson off Scott. Six runs later Johnson (10) was bowled by Newton. When Mannikar (13) was caught by Robson the total was 58 in the 10th. A partnership of 40 between Will Varley (24) & Matthew Jennings (18) was crucial in getting up with the rate so that when both fell the total had got to 106 in the 16th, then 110 off 17o.

 Running well, Eashan Ragbir (2*) & Ross Ward (5*) saw the Bushwhackers home in the 19th over. 35 extras including 22 wides & 5 no balls were gratefully received. Would have been tight otherwise.

 Final:

Alnmouth & Lesbury 70ao (15o: L Robinson 16, Robertson 16, T Robinson 11: Atul Ramesh 0-21, Will Varley 1-14, Ross Ward 2-11, Ben Sidney-Wilmot 1-7, Calum Fletcher 3-9, Jonnie Bell 0-7)

SN Bushwhackers 71-4 ( 13.2o: Fletcher 37*, Varley 15, Walton 8: Riley 2-17)

SN won by 6 wickets.

 Heavy rain reduced the final to 15o, max 3 per bowler. Alnmouth were asked to bat. Wides again bedevilled the openers Ramesh & Varley, 9 in total, but Varley had Elder (6) caught at mid off by Ragbir with the score on 26 in the 4th. Two overs later L Robinson (16) was well  caught at deep mid wicket by Varley off Ward. In the next over Ben Sid bowled Tulip (0) & in the next, Ward had T Robinson (11) smartly stumped by skipper Mannikar as he advanced, 48-4 in the 8th.

 Cal Fletcher then bowled with pace to disassemble the middle order bowling Robson (2), Harrop (0), & then Robertson (16) 62-7 in the 13th. Two run outs saw Riley (6) fail to beat a Varley throw & Woodford (0) not make the non striker's end via a Mannikar collect & a Fletcher dash, 70-9 after 15o.

 In reply Cal Fletcher & Guy Johnson opened. Three Fletcher boundaries off L Robinson took the score to 21 but from the last ball of the 5th Guy (5), in pursuit of an optimistic second run, failed to get back to the non striker's end. Varley was positive & scored 15 from 10 balls before being well caught at point by Tulip from a firm cut off Riley. 

 Two balls later Ben Sid (2) succumbed  lbw, 56-3 but Max Walton (8) accompanied Cal until at 67 in the 13th over an optimistic call from Fletcher found Walton failing to beat the throw to the striker's end. Captain Parth Mannikar (1*) saw Cal hit the winning runs from the 2nd ball of the 14th over, finishing unbeaten on 37* (from 45b) & deservedly being Man of the Match for his runs & wickets.

A triumph for the players amid rain affected games & postponements & for the Club, a first U19 trophy,  based on a team effort in which all played a part over the two games & in the previous rounds. Grateful thanks go to Craig Thompson for wicket prep & covering & to Gordon Halliday for fixture arranging.  C'est magnifique! Well done everyone.

DDS.