GUY JOHNSON HEROICS NOT ENOUGH FOR 1864'S AT LEADERS HUMSHAUGH

12th Jul 2022

        West Tyne League Division 1, Sat 9^th July 2022 v Humshaugh (a)

SNCC 1864 148ao (39.4o) Guy Johnson 83, Patrick Hatcher 10, Varun Gudipati 19: Matt Williamson 1-13, Will Forster 3-16, Gen Tweddle 1-33, Andy Elliott 3-25, Steve Arnup 1-46, Carl Binovec 0-8.

Humshaugh 152-4 (25.5o) Chris Heslop 43, Hedley Renton 54, Matt Williamson 29, Glen Tweddle 16*: Patrick Hatcher 1-32, Varun Gudipati 0-25, Scott Alexander 2-41, Josephine Nkomo 0-33, Will Young 1-13.

Humshaugh won by 6 wickets - 20 points, 1864's 5.

A battling 83 from Guy Johnson to be last out with two balls remaining in the innings was not enough for the 1864's as leaders Humshaugh reached their target in only 25.5 overs.

Winning the toss & batting the 64's faced the steady seam of Williamson & Forster. George McConnell (1) perished at 7 caught by w/k Renton off Williamson in the 7th, 4 of which were maidens. Jack Patterson (8) drove to mid on & was caught by Elliott off Forster, 9-2 in the 8th. Two boundaries to Jan Ozmen in the 10^th but in the 14^th he chopped on to Tweddle from a ball that seemed to keep low.

Johnson took 8 off Tweddle in the 16^th but then Belinda Wewalage (0) was lbw to Elliott in the 17th, 37-4 in the 19^th Will Carr (2), who had shaped well, played a little too soon to be caught at mid on off Elliott, 43-5. 3 balls later Josephine (0) was adjudged run out returning for a second, 43-6 in the 20th.

Guy & Patrick (10) had a partnership of 21, including consecutive boundaries to Patrick before he was lbw to Elliott, sweeping, 64-7. Guy's 50 came up in the 30^th over & with Varun Gudipati batting nicely, the total rose to 101 when Varun (19, 2x4) was bowled by Forster. Scott Alexander (1) was bowled by Forster at 109-9. Will Young (4*) batted sensibly & Guy took 14 off the 38^th , 4 off the 39^th & 10 off the last before being caught & bowled by Arnup for a valiant 83 (93b, 11x4, 2x6), 148 all out.

The feeling again was that the total was 40 short.

Humshaugh faced the medium pace of Hatcher & Gudipati. The left-handed Heslop hit hard to leg & all the bowlers were punished for variations of length or line, 50 coming up in 6 overs. In the 9^th Heslop (43, 6x4) was bowled by Scott Alexander defending, 63-1. 4 balls later Sewell (0) was caught by w/k Belinda Wewalage off Alexander, 63-2, a double wicket maiden to cheer.

A missed chance at 72 might have proved crucial but Renton (25) survived. A partnership of 68 between Renton & Williamson ensued & although Will Young bowled nicely, it was Hatcher who made the breakthrough, getting Renton (54, 7x4) caught by Will Carr at cover in over 21, 131-3. One over later Williamson (24, 4x4) was caught by Hatcher at short third man retreating, a maiden wicket for Will Young.

Three tight overs but in the 26^th Tweddle took three fours off Alexander to end the game after 25.5 overs. 5 points for the 64's but last year in such a game there may not have been any points. So, a tribute for sticking at it when under the cosh, Varun Will Carr & Will Young all did well. 

The 1864's stay in 6^th place in West Tyne league Division 1 on 139 points. The next game is v Benwell Hill at Greenside (h) on Sat 16h July. A run of games follow which may be winnable, availability permitting. We must continue!

Duncan.