Fletcher century in vain as 2s slip to defeat at Denton Bank

14th Jun 2022

SNCC 205-8 (53o dec) Ru Fletcher 100, Alex Charnley 26, Jacob McCord 30*: Joe Torre 1-47, Peter Jones 2-40, Safin Diip 3-39, Abu Siddique 2-21.

Benwell Hill 206-5 (45.4o) Rohaan Aatif 76, Freddie McGregor 31, Joe Fletcher 39*, Laurie Kitchen 36*: Jacob McCord 1-26, Mo Shahbaz 0-21, David Cragg 0-54, Sadiq Khan 4-55, Ru Fletcher 0-25, Nick Tomlinson 0-21.

Benwell Hill won by 5 wickets- 29 points, SNCC 5.

With bowling resources diminished & despite a first 2nd X1 century for Ru Fletcher & a declaration after 53 overs, the 2's slipped to a 5 wicket defeat at Denton Bank. 

Winning the toss & batting, Fletcher & Charnley built an opening partnership of 82 by 25th over when Charnley (26) was lbw to Diip's off spin, Ru 51*. Tomlinson (0) followed at 92, 3 overs later missing a full toss from Jones' slow left arm.

Ragbir & Fletcher took the score to 123 in the 36 th when Ragbir (13) was caught at short fine leg, top edging a sweep off Jones, Ru 75*.  Southern (0) chipped to mid wicket one run later & at 133 Ryan Sid, driving Siddique, was caught by Kitchen, retreating at mid off. !34-5 became for 6 as Ewart (0) was bowled by Diip in the 43rd.

Sadiq (8) was bowled by Siddique in the 46th, 159-7, Ru 98*. Jacob McCord attacked the off spin of Diip & Ru reached a very merited 100 with a single (146b, 15x4 to all parts) only to fall next ball, yorked by Torre as he advanced, 173-8 in the 49th. McCord attacked taking 11 off Diip in the 51 st & was 30* when the declaration came after 53 overs at 205-8, Mo Shahbaz 10*, both had contributed to an undefeated partnership of 31 for the 9th wicket.

Aatif & Hynd faced the seam of McCord & Shahbaz. The score had reached 32 in only the 6th when Hynd (15) was played on to McCord.  Aatif & McGregor put together a partnership of 91 for the second wicket withstanding the introduction of David Cragg & Ru Fletcher, the fielding was variable & aerial shots did not go to hand.

At 123 in the 30th Aatif (76, 93b, 9x4) was lbw to Sadiq. Three balls later Nadella (0) was bowled & at 132 in the 32nd , McGregor (31) was bowled by Sadiq. At 143 in the 38th Sadiq took his 4th wicket, Siddique (4) caught low down at first slip by Ryan. Thereafter Joe Fletcher (39*, 4x4, 2x6) & Laurie Kitchen (36* 5x4, 1x6) put together an undefeated match winning partnership of 63 for the 6th wicket defying the combined efforts of Khan, Cragg & Fletcher, the winning runs coming in the 46th over.

A failure to create pressure on the batsman throughout, average fielding, a missed chance & perhaps a generous declaration all contributed to what turned out to be a comfortable win for the home team, who were able to field their strongest team of the year. There are things to improve.

The next NEPL Division 2 match is v Sunderland (a) on Sat 18th June.

Duncan