CAPTAIN'S KNOCK SEALS EXCITING LAST OVER WIN AT THE HILL

1st May 2018

Benwell Hill 169ao (46.2o) Coetzer 35, Mukhtar 36, Halliday 37; Wightman 2-52, Tindale 3-48, Crozier 3-20, Stanyon 1-17.

SNCC 172-7 (45.4o) Graham 27, Trevaskis 47, Cragg 54*, Craigs 17: Snyman 2-23,Hanley 1-62, Kilpatrick 1-37, Hunter 1-18, Coetzer 1-30.

SNCC 23 points Benwell Hill 4. (after both lose one for a slow over rate)

Score Card: http://sncc.play-cricket.com/website/results/3327942

In a game reduced to 93 overs by two rain showers, SN required 13 to win off the final over. Adam Cragg obliged with two sixes & a four ! An amazing end to a hard fought game on a true surface with a little in it.

Benwell Hill were invited to bat & started well with Phil Nicholson & James Schofield playing with intent against Jonny Wightman & Sean Tindale. Nicholson had scored 18 when caught behind off Tindale at 33. Professional Jacques Snyman then had the misfortune to be run out without facing a ball responding to a tight call from Schofield, as Sam Dale hit the stumps directly from square leg. 33-2 in the 11th, an outstanding piece of fielding.

As is his want Kyle Coetzer began with a flurry of boundaries but at 48 Schofield was lbw to Wightman for 21. Adam Heather succumbed lbw to Lee Crozier for 2 & Coetzer was taken at deep square leg sweeping the same bowler. When Mark Dale mishooked Richard Stanyon to square leg, his namesake again the catcher, the Hill were in trouble at 83-6 from 21 overs.

Interrupted by rain showers, there followed an excellent partnership of 70 between Mohsin Mukhtar, aged 17, (36) & Peter Halliday (37), until Mukhtar was bowled by Tindale at 153-7 in the 43rd over. Halliday then lofted Tindale to long on where Adam Cragg took the catch. Hanley was bowled by Wightman second ball & Joe Kilpatrick (4) found Simon Birtwisle at deep mid wicket. The innings closing at 169 after 46.2 overs.

In reply SN lost Rob Peyton (1), lbw to Rory Hanley in the third over, 9-1. Kilpatrick's steadiness saw Birtwisle drive him to Coetzer at mid wicket for 10, 25-2 in the 8th. John Graham & Liam Trevaskis then batted with great good sense especially against the accurate off breaks of Snyman from the West Road end. The partnership of 43 ended when Graham edged behind off Hunter for 27 (56 balls, 86 minutes).

Adam Cragg joined Trevaskis & the two left handers ran well in a partnership off 42 before Trevaskis was lbw to Snyman for a very worthy & vital 47 (103 balls,96 minutes). At 125 Sean Tindale was caught & bowled by Coetzer for 3 & Sam Dale (3) lbw to Snyman, 5 runs later, 131-6 in the 40th of 46. Becoming tense !

Michael Craigs inventive 17 from 18 balls including a 6 over mid wicket,was ended by a run out, 157 -7 with 8 balls to go. Two dots, 13 to win from the last over, Rory Hanley to bowl from the Drive end, Adam Cragg on strike. 6 over square leg, a dot, 6 over mid wicket tied the scores. With the field up, the 4th ball was emphatically driven through extra cover for four! A magnificent end to a tight game in the balance until the last over. Cragg 54* ( 51 balls, 3x4 4x6, 82 minutes).

23 points sees SN top of the Premier Division by 14 points after two wins. A long way to go !