BULLS VICTORIOUS IN OPENING T20 AT FELLING BUT HELD TO A WINNING DRAW BY BURNMOOR AFTER THE RAIN.

20th May 2019

The opening round of NEPL T20 Group C began on a sunny if cold, Friday 16th May at High Heworth Lane.

Felling 48ao (14.5o Carroll 14: McGee 3-6, Tindale 3-4, Ruddick 2-4, Wightman 1-15)

SNCC   49-4   (9.5o Cragg 25* Hewison 13*: Munton 3-16)

SN win by 6 wickets, 2 points.

Felling won the toss & batted on a wicket with some green patches. Hurst & Shaw faced Wightman & Birtwisle. In over 1, a third ball run out of Hurst attempting 2 but beaten by Chris Hewison's turn & powerful throw to the striker's end from point set the tone. In over 3 Shaw was lbw to Wightman for 2. 11-2.

Carroll & Wright each found the boundary twice before the introduction of Oli McGee, from the trees, saw Wright caught by Crozier at backward point & in his second over trap  Robson  lbw for 3, 38-4 in the 8th.

Tindale, bowling quickly, then had Shilar taken by w/k Rob Peyton for 0 & at the same score, Carroll(14) holed out at deep mid wicket off McGee, 39-6 in the 10th. Two runs later, in the next over, James Ruddick had Paton caught at deep mid wicket by Birty & in his next over Munton(0) was adjudged lbw, 42-8 in the 12th. At 48 Tindale had Nicholls caught by w/k Peyton & next ball rearranged Dent's stumps ending the innings at 48 after 14.5o.

There was almost a sting in the tail. Birtwisle & Peyton faced Shilar's off breaks & Munton's pace. Three wickets went down from the first three balls of the second over ! Birty steered to backward point, Peyton (4) optimistically ventured then retreated but failed to beat Shilar's direct hit at the non striker's end ! Hooking at the next ball, Birty (1) was caught down the legside by w/k Hurst then Du Toit flicked to backward square leg first ball. 5-3 after 11 balls !

Sam Dale at three, had watched all this mayhem but he too succumbed lbw to Munton for 6 at 22 in the 6th. Chris Hewison joined Adam Cragg & the pair sensibly took 27 from the next 3.5 overs to win the game at 1928, an innings lasting 37 minutes.

Group  C T20 continues with games on:  Friday 31st May Eppleton (a)

                                                                         Friday 7th June  Crook (h)

                                                                         Friday 14th June Shotley Bridge (a)

                                                                         Friday 21st June Burnopfield (h).... ALL ARE 1800 STARTS.

NEPL PREMIER DIVISION (5/22) : SAT 17TH MAY SNCC v BURNMOOR (H)

A top of the table clash with second placed SN 7 points ahead of third placed Burnmoor before start of play. The promised rain arrived & an early lunch was taken. The efforts of Craig Thompson ensured a 1500 start with a reduced overs match of 36/32, Burnmoor won the toss & asked SN to bat.

There followed an outstanding spell of quickish bowling from Sami Khan from the Grove end. Left arm over & moving it both ways, he ended an unbroken spell, 8-5-6-1. Sean Tindale driving, bowled for 1. At the Park end Martin Hubber bowled 4 for 20 as both Birty & Chris Hewison drove & pulled. The introduction of Craig Symington saw 11 runs but the wicket of Birtwisle (13) driving around the last ball of his first over, the 10th. 34-2.

John Graham & Hewison saw off Khan's spell carefully, more important to defend well & still be there, a close lbw shout off Symington causing a short frisson. Graeme Bridge replaced Kahn but the runs came at 5 an over until at 93, Hewsion attempting a big straight hit, was bowled by Bridge for an excellent 51 (7x4, 62b, 96m).

Jacques Du Toit joined Graham & the pair built a substantial partnership of 72, Craigs Stephenson &  Symington suffering most, when at 165 in the 29th, Du Toit (42, 3x4, 1x6, 29b, 21m) hoisted to deep square leg where Wright took a good, low catch. Graham continued to attack & at 179 in the 29th was smartly caught by w/k Linsley down the legside sweeping Hubber for 57 (5x4, 1x6, 48b,95m), another valuable innings.

Adam Cragg & Rob Peyton advanced the score to 199 attractively before Peyton (6) holed out to cover off Hubber. The declaration came at the end of the 33rd over with SN on 203-6, Cragg 25* Craigs 1*. Burnmoor had 35 overs to bat.

Allan Worthy & Martin Hubber faced the pace of Jonny Wightman & Sean Tindale. In the 4th the left handed Hubber was bowled by Tindale for 2. Paul Craig joined Worthy & the pair took opportunities to score. At 54 in the 16th, after 5 nice boundaries, Craig lofted Michael Craigs into the legside & Sean Tindale running 20 yards from mid on towards mid wicket, took a good running catch.

At 59 in the 22nd over, Hodgson (3) was very well stumped down the legside by Rob Peyton off a swinging Craigs delivery. 21 runs & 5 overs later, Worthy (27) lost patience & was bowled by McGee swinging to leg, 80-4 in the 27th. Occasionally belligerent survival seemed to be the chosen option as the Symingtons  joined forces. Elegant back foot drives from Mark & punches down the ground from Craig.

At 109 in the 34th, Mark Symington (23) took the Wightman hooking bait & was caught by Graham at deep backward square leg. From the last ball of the game Craig (19) was caught by Cragg at deep mid wicket off McGee.

A winning draw for the Bulls. 13 points enabled them to assume top spot in the Premier Division by 4 from rained off Tynemouth. Groundsman Craig Thompson's value in wanting to 'get the game on' was never more apparent than on Saturday, bravo!

On Saturday, 25th May,  the Bulls visit Newcastle, away 1200 start. Another tough encounter against a currently wounded opponent. We must continue & hope to see you there.

The next round of the ECB Royal London Club Championship is on Sunday 9th June at 2018 national champions Richmondshire, 1300 start. 

DDS.