DAVID EDWARDS CENTURY PROVIDES THE PLATFORM FOR A TENSE VICTORY OVER CHESTER-LE-STREET

21st May 2024

NEPL Division 2 Sat 18^th May 2024: SNCC v Chester-le-Street (h) 45/45

SNCC 257-6 (45o) Will Alexander 32, David Edwards 102*, Alex Weetman 30, Ru Fletcher 21 (extras 45) : John Harrison 0-39, Hedley Windows 1-28, Gabriel Hughes-Pinan 1-39, Connor Pattison 0-35, Liam Colledge 0-39, Harry Simpson 2-53, Josh Metcalfe 1-18.

Chester-le-Street 247-9 (40o) Charlie Purdon 26, George Harrison 98, John Harrison 45, Connor Pattison 17* (extras 19): Will Alexander 2-52, Gavin Paton 2-42, James Lunn, 2-34, Ru Fletcher 2-42, George Gray 0-39, James Ruddick 0-30.

SNCC won by 10 runs - 24 points, CLS 6.

A magnificent, undefeated century by David Edwards, his first for SNCC, following one some years ago for Chorley, well supported by Will Alexander, Alex Weetman & Ru Fletcher, aided by 45 extras, 37 of which were wides, saw the Bulls to a sizeable 257-6. For CLS, young spinners Gabriel Hughes-Pinan & Harry Simpson & seamer Hedley Windows, showed much promise.

In reply, having been behind the rate at 30 overs, matched the SN score at 40 overs as the brothers Harrison batted with great purpose & ran well, to finish only 10 short, after George (98) was bowled by Gavin Paton in the penultimate over.

A sunny day saw the Bulls win the toss & bat. The left handed Nick Tomlinson & Alex Charnley faced the seam of John Harrison & Hedley Windows. Harrison bedevilled by wides but two wickets as Nick (8) edged Windows behind in the 4^th & in the 5^th an overoptimistic call for a single by striker Will Alexander led to Alex (8) being run out, a direct hit from cover by Colledge; 20-2.

Will & David Edwards then put together a partnership of 88. Will's timing not quite there but David's spot on as anything short of a length was punished. 92-2 after15 overs at first drinks, Will 31* David 29*.

In over 19 Will (32, 53b, 5x4) aiming a big drive, was bowled by Gabriel Hughes-Pinan, 108-3. Alex Weetman joined former Chorley team mate David & the pair scored freely as the wides mounted. Alex pulled Colledge for 6 to square leg & then David's 50 came up in the 25th, 137-3. GH-P (ob) bowled a good spell of 9 overs only suffering in his last.

Three boundaries in two overs to Alex, but to his mortification, in Harry Simpson's first, he hit a full toss to backward square leg to be caught by GH-P, 165-4, Alex (30, 29b,3x4,1x6).

At second drinks (30o) the score had risen to 170-4, David 59*, Ru 3*. Colledge (rm) & Simpson ( lb) continued, a maiden to Harry in the 31^st & the rate slowed, singles only to be 188-4 after 35. A change of w/k saw Metcalfe (ob) bowl the 38th. In his second over Ru (21, 31b, 1x4) slog swept to square leg & was caught neatly on the fence by G H-P, 225-5, David 87*.

James Ruddick (8) struck one nice boundary before holing out at long on off Simpson. David hit an emphatic 6 to wide long on in the 43rd^th to get to 98, his deserved100 coming in the 44^th with a single to square leg. The innings ended at a substantial 257-6, David 102* (122b, 9x4,1x6), Gavin Paton 3*.

In reply Metcalfe (lh) & Cook faced Will Alexander (Grove) & Gavin Paton (Park). A similar start as first Cook (0) edged Alexander to w/k Craig Manchester, 12-1 in the 3^rd & in the next, Metcalfe (13) skied to mid on where Nick took the catch also off Will, 21-2.

48-2 after 10 overs but then bowling changes saw James Lunn (ob) & Ru Fletcher (rm) begin spells. James Ruddick patrolled the covers & saved some runs, Charlie Purdon runs well but in the 15^th having hit 1x4 1x2 off Ru, & aiming to leg, leading edged towards extra cover where Alex Charnley, moved smartly to his right to take a very good catch, Purdon (26), 70-3.

Hedley Windows (lh) joined George Harrison but in Lunny's 5^th he edged to first slip where Ru took a good, low catch, Windows (4) 81 the score. Lunny & Ru continued & in the 22^nd Colledge (13), pushing forward, was bowled by Lunny, 101-5. A good, controlled, 7 over spell from Lunny

Summers joined G Harrison, as George Gray began a spell from the Grove & Gavin returned. Good use of feet saw the total rise to 132 in the 28^th when Summers (11) was lbw to Gavin. John Harrison joined brother George & both played positively such that in the 10 overs to the 38^th the total rose to 207 despite bowling changes which saw Will, James, Ru & George Gray enter the attack.

But having just hit 6 to mid wicket off Ru, attacking the next ball, John H (45,36b,5x4,2x6) was bowled, 207-7 after 38. 7,8,8,6,6 from the next 5 overs, becoming tense !! But from the 5^th ball of the 43^rd Gavin found the perfect yorker to bowl George Harrison for an excellent 98 (100b, 11x4),245-8.

In the last over, Simpson (0) was run out, Alex's throw to the bowler beat him, to leave the Cestrians 10 short on 247-9. An exciting game for the spectators which ebbed & flowed & was in the balance until the end.

SN, now joint third on 59 points, face leaders Newcastle (a) on Sat 25^th May 2024, we hope you can be there to cheer them on.

Duncan.