GOUGH'S OUTSTANDING CENTURY LEADS BULLS TO RECORD RUN CHASE AT JESMOND.

11th Jul 2022

                           NEPL Division 2, Sat 9^th July 2022, SNCC v Newcastle (a)

Newcastle 277-5 dec (51o) Stephen Pinnington 57, Steven Allen 37, Euan Stenhouse 109*, Rob Walker 33: Allan Davidson 1-52, Gavin Paton 0-48, Will Harris 1-55, Ru Fletcher 0-25, Sadiq Khan 1-68, Nathan Gough 1-17, Jacob McCord 0-12.

SNCC 278-5 (52.1o) Sadiq Khan 44, Alex Charnley 37, Nathan Gough 110*, Angus Southern 29, Ru Fletcher 20: Patrick McMorran 1-39, Harry Phillips 2-41, Joe Boaden 0-54, Chris Miller 1-35, Stephen Pinnington 1-38, Fin Allen 0-37.

SNCC won by 5 wickets - 25 points, Newcastle 5.

Record books & memories are being searched but no one so far can recall a bigger or better chase than the one at Jesmond last, very sunny Saturday, spearheaded by Nathan Gough's 110*. Newcastle won the toss & chose to bat. A short boundary to the Pavilion side & a very quick outfield made accuracy of line & length imperative. Pinnington & Steven Allen faced the seam of Davidson & Paton.

Some early playing & missing but often too short or full, the opening partnership had reached 98 in the 21^st when Allen as striker, (36, 6x4) called for a leg bye & set off. Alex Weetman (w/k) moved swiftly to his left, picked up & threw down the stumps at the non-striker's end with Allen adrift. An important bit of quick thinking & execution from Alex emulating Parth the week before. Gibson (0) was lbw to Sadiq's leg spin a few balls later & at the same score Pinnington 57 (10x4) aiming to pull Gough, skied for Weetman to take the catch, 99-3.

On the flat surface, Stenhouse & Walker were mostly untroubled in moving the score along, one chance was not taken & some boundary fielding a tad untidy but largely capable in the ring under pressure from well set batsmen. Commendably, Sadiq bowled his 12 overs through finishing with 1-68, Stenhouse slog sweeping.

Second spells for Paton, Harris & Davidson saw the total rise to 185 by the 40^th when Walker (33, 6x4) chopped on to Harris. A further partnership of 67 between Stenhouse & Fin Allen ended when Allen (18) was lbw to Davidson. Miller's breezy 10 saw the declaration at 277 after 51overs, Stenhouse ending 109*(93b, 15x4, 4x6), an excellent innings making the most of the fast scoring conditions.

The Bulls thought "chaseable" & that belief, after last week's 260, proved crucial. Batting order rejigged, Sadiq Khan & Alex Charnley faced the seam of McMorran & Phillips. Sadiq started with intent & in 40 balls hit 44,(6x4 2x6) before skying off McMorran, 73-1 but ahead of the rate. Charnley, imbued with Sadiq's dynamism, pulled & reversed to 37 (5x4) before being undone by a Miller yorker, 105-2. 

Gough had settled playing down the ground & in company with Angus Southern took the score to 187 when Angus 29 ( 51b, 3x4) was bowled by Pinnington, Gough 60*. Weetman (11) edged behind off Phillips, 219-4 with 13 overs remaining. Ru Fletcher hit 20 (24b 2x4) as the score increased, before inside edged onto his stumps driving Phillips. Nathan Gough reached a memorable 100 in the 47^th (15x4, 1x6) a year almost to the day he did the same thing on the same ground for Newcastle RGS at the festival.

Calum Fletcher 6* joined Nathan who pulled the winning boundary from the first ball of the 53^rd over. 110* 105b,16x4, 1x6) mostly straight, some over mid wicket, some pulled, some through the offside. Joy unbounded, experienced members of the 2's could not remember a better chase or the feeling it generated.

After Alex's run out had checked the home momentum & the bowlers & fielders stuck at it, the opening partnership had set the tone, the momentum had been maintained. A tremendous win cements the Bulls in 3^rd place on 225 points in NEPL Division 2 after 13/22 matches, 40 behind leaders Tynemouth.

Important games coming up : Friday 15^th July T20 1/4 final v Tynemouth (a), Sat 16^th NEPL Div 2 v Gateshead Fell (h). We hope you can join us.

Duncan.