BULLS WIN WELL AT TYNEDALE BUT GAME ABANDONED IN THE  NATIONAL.

20th Jun 2024

BULLS WIN WELL AT TYNEDALE BUT GAME ABANDONED IN THE  NATIONAL.

NEPL Premier Division: Sat 15^th June 2024: SNCC v Tynedale (a) 105o

Tynedale 144ao (33.5o) Euan Stephenson 15, Jamie Crichton 12, Aaron Rourke 40, Nathan Byerley 30: Tom Rogers 3-21, Jonny Wightman 1-44, Sean Tindale 4-44. Oli McGee 1-21.

SNCC 148-4 (16o) Sol Bell 49*, Chris Hewison 15, Simon Birtwisle 75: Matthew Scott 3-50, Archie Fletcher 0-42, Nathan Byerley 0-18, Aaron Rourke 0-27, Nkosana Mpofu 1-12.

SNCC won by 6 wickets 23 points, Tynedale 2.

On a day when the rain threatened to intervene, the Bulls bounced back in style to achieve a 6 wicket win in only 16 overs. Sol & Birty hit 25x4 & 2x6 between them, the 4^th wicket putting on 96 in quick time as variations of length were severely punished.

Winning the toss Tynedale were asked to bat. The left handed pair Mpofu & Parker faced the seam of Rogers & Wightman. Parker (0) succumbed to the 5^th ball as the edge was very well caught by Nik, diving to his left at third slip. This became 7-2 in the third over as A Fletcher edged to Birty in the slips off Tom.

In the 4^th Ted Fletcher (6) was lbw to Jonny, 14-3 & at the same score Mpofu (7) lbw to Tom. Sean Tindale entered the attack in over 10 & bowled Barber(6) driving airily off stump, 34-5. 48 -6 in the 14^th as Crichton (12) was caught at third slip by Nik off Sean. 53-7 in the 16^th when Stephenson (15) pushing forward, was bowled by Sean.

Resistance then came from Rourke who struck Jonny for 4 & 6 & Scott. The total had reached 93 in the 22^nd when Scott (11) was athletically run out by Sol, reacting quickly at short mid wicket & throwing down the non striker's stumps, 8 down.

Rourke & Byerley attacked selectively & the score had risen to 130 in the 31^st when Rourke (40, 50b, 4x4,2x6) inadvertently lobbed to Sol at point off Sean. In over 34 Byerley (30, 44b, 5x4) hit Oli  for 4 but in attempting to repeat, was bowled, 144 all out after 33.5 overs.

The skies threatened, an urgent need to bat positively. Bell & Rogers faced the right arm seam of Scott & A Fletcher. Sol took 4x4 in the first over pulling to mid wicket & glancing to fine leg. But in the third Scott enticed Tom (0) to drive to cover where O Fletcher took the catch & two balls later Nik's drive (0) squirted to point where Mpofu obliged, 22-2.

Hewi  (15,26b) hit 3x4 in over 5 from Scott but at 42 in the 7^th he was caught by Mpofu at point, 3 down, Sol 24*. Enter Birty who hit 2x4 immediately & two more in over 9.

Over 10-9 runs, over 11- 5 runs, over 12-20 runs as Birty pulled & drove  5x4 from consecutive deliveries from A Fletcher, over 13-14 runs as both Sol & Birty struck boundaries, over 14-14 runs, a Sol maximum & Birty boundary.

Mpofu bowled over 15 & was hit for 4 & 6 by Birty (75, 38b, 16x4, 1x6) who then top edged a sweep to short fine leg where Barber made ground from slip to take the catch. A totally exhilarating innings perfect for the situation 

Sean (5*) & Sol 49* (39b, 9x4, 1x6) completed the victory at the end of the 16^th over. The rain stayed away but only two games in the Premier Division produced a result, the rest were abandoned.

23 points sees the Bulls up to 4th, one point behind Tynemouth in third & 27 adrift of undefeated Burnmoor at the top.

The visit of Sunderland in second spot on Sat 22^nd June (h) 1130, 110 overs is to look forward to. We hope you can be there.

                  ECB NATIONAL CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP REGIONAL FINAL.                               

Sunday 16^th June 2024: SNCC v Woodlands (h) 40/40

Woodlands 199-9 (38.4o) Brad Schumulian 29, Kieran Collins 42, Scott Richardson 26, Moh Bilal 28: Tom Rogers 1-30, Jonny Wightman 5-50, Sean Tindale 0-32, Oli McGee 1-31, Lee Crozier 2-44.

Match abandoned after 38.4 overs- rain : replay Sun 23^rd June (h) 1300.

Our visitors travelled by coach from Bradford, hoping that the forecast rain in late afternoon might not happen. Sadly it did & after tea & a break of c90 minutes, including mopping operations, the game was abandoned at 1815. The replay will take place on Sunday 23^nd June, 1300, 40/40 at Roseworth Terrace.

The Bulls invited Woodlands to bat. Frankland & Jackson faced Rogers & Wightman. A steady start & with the rate around 5's in the 6^th Jackson (3) top edged a hook off Wightman to short fine leg where Rogers retreating  took the catch. From the last ball of the same over Frankland edged Wightman to first slip where Nik took a neat catch, 31-2.

In the 9^th the powerful Clee (0) edged Rogers to first slip where Gorantla took a sharp chance with aplomb, 39-3. Schumulian ran well & in company with K Collins the score moved on as Tindale, McGee & then Crozier entered the attack. 

The total had reached 88 in the19^th when Schumulian (29) top edged a sweep off McGee for Crozier to retreat & turn at short fine leg & take a very good catch as the ball came over his head. Already the fielding was markedly better than a week ago, the intensity was good & many runs were saved. Hewison patrolled the cover boundary with a strong arm.

Crozier had begun a spell in the 16^th & in the 26^th at 105 the left handed L Collins drove hard only for Lee to pluck the ball out of  the air, at head height in his follow through, magnificent !, 4 down. This became 5 down based on another exceptional piece of fielding as K Collins slog swept Crozier just in front of square leg for Gorantla to move quickly to his right from mid wicket & diving, hold the catch inches above the turf,121-5. 5 catches in two days for Nik, inspirational !

But Woodlands bat deep & an enterprising, left handed partnership between S Richardson & Bilal, including a 6 first ball to mid wicket, saw the total rise to 167 in the 32^nd when Bilal (28, 20b, 4x4 1x6) miscued a pull to be caught by Rogers at short third man off Wightman. This became 179 -8 in the 34^th as E Richardson (10) edged Wightman to w/k Peyton. One run & 3 balls later S Richardson (24) was lbw to Wightman. The first 5 wicket haul by a Bulls bowler this season.

The drizzle had begun but the last wicket partnership of Ahmed & Kaye was composed lasting 20 minutes & 24 balls adding 19 when the umpires decided it was too wet to continue after 38.4 overs.

With 8 balls still remaining no DLS calculation could be made & although the rain seemed to ease & the sheets were removed, it returned & the game was abandoned at 1815.

So all to play for again in 7 days time, we hope for a fine day & some more exciting cricket. The Bulls fielding & catching was as good as we have seen this season. The standard is set, we must continue.

Duncan.