LIONS TAME VERY YOUTHFUL 1864 BULLS AT TYNEMOUTH.

28th Apr 2025

                      LIONS TAME VERY YOUTHFUL 1864 BULLS AT TYNEMOUTH.

               NTCL Div 5 Central: Sat 26^th April 2025: SN1864 v Lions (a) 40/40o

Lions 257-6 (40o) L Ganesh 105, S Suhas 60, C Patel 25*, A Gupta 18, B Shah 10: Olly Alexander 0-30, Matthew Smith 3-36, Olivia Miller 0-44, Zara Cartmell 1-26, Elliot Mee 0-37, Archit Upadhye 1-42, Dominic Johnson 1-36.

SN 1864 113 ao (39o) Belinda Wewalage 19, Adi Bethanabatla 12, Olivia Miller 10, Elliot Mee 14, Olly Alexander 23, Fraser Hall 14, Matthew Smith 7: V Goyal 2-12, S Shah 1-29, S Solanki 1-18, D Banka 1-18, H Shah 1-10, S Suhas 2-17, A Gupta 1-5.

Lions won by 144 runs - 30 points, 1864's 5.

An 1864 X1 led by Liv Miller, containing 9 juniors, including 5x U15 & 2x U13, put up a most creditable show against an all adult Lions team of some power & if chances had been taken midway through the Lions innings, the scoreline would have been much kinder.

U13's Olly Alexander & Matthew Smith opened the bowling against B Shah & A Gupta. In the second Matthew persuaded Shah (10) to force off the back foot & he edged behind for w/k Fraser Hall to take a neat catch. Olly conceded only 3 runs in his 2nd, 3rd & 4^th overs but it was Matthew who got the next wicket at 44 in the 10^th when Gupta (18) was bowled; Olly 5-0-30-0, Matthew 5-0-36-2, two good spells !!

Liv (lb) & Zara (rm) took up the attack in overs 11 &12. At drinks after 20 the score had risen to 106 but crucially the first chance off Zara at point was not taken, Liv 5-0-38-0, Zara 5-0-23-0, running in smoothly. Olly returned for 3 overs & Elliot's leg spin began from the Preston Road end. Both had the misfortune to see chances go down in overs 23 & 25 Elliot & 24 Olly. Ganesh at that point in the 40's & Suhas 20.

The total had reached 166 in the 30th, Matthew's 7th, when Suhas (60, 59b 5x4 3x6) was bowled, a third wicket for him, reward for bowling straight. Archit Upadhye (lb) suffered as Ganesh attacked down the ground, moving towards his century, but at 212 in the 36^th his second over, Dominic Johnson (rm) bowled Goyal (6). Ganesh achieved his century off Archit but 4 balls later driving, edged uppishly towards gully where Elliot Mee took the catch, some compensation for Archit who had a catch dropped in the same over; Ganesh 105, (105b, 13x4 2x6).

In the 39^th Zara suffered another dropped chance but then persuaded Solanki (1) to sky to square leg where Belinda took the catch; 6-0-26-1, a very good return. Dominic's last over went for 17 as C Patel launched straight, the total rising to 257-6 after 40 overs.

Tough to bowl & field towards the end under attack, so all credit to Archit, Zara & Dominic for sustaining their effort. The fielding throughout was tidy, Liv making some fine stops at extra cover, w/k Fraser, only 3 byes, took the ball cleanly, the energy & throwing from the deep consistent, if only the catches had been taken !!

In reply Belinda Wewalage & Adi Bethanabatla faced the seam of Goyal (rm) & S Shah (lm). A full toss no ball to begin & then in Shah's first, Belinda, nursing a sore hand, dropped at square leg but then driving sumptuously down the ground & through extra cover for 4. 

The total had reached 33 in the 10^th when Belinda (19, 26b, 40m, 4x4) drove but edged to w/k C Patel. In the next, without addition, Adi (12, 31b, 45m, 1x4) mistimed to short extra off Goyal & three balls later Rory Cartmell (0) was trapped on the crease & palpably lbw, 3 down. Liv & Elliott battled to 55 in the 17th, Liv steering past gully & Elliott past slip, both running well. Then Liv (10, 18b, 28m, 1x4) cut to backward point  once more but B Shah took the catch, waist high, off Banka (rm); 67-4 at 20 over drinks.

Olly Alexander joined Elliot & the pair looked assured scoring 22 in 5 overs & running well until Elliot (14, 30b, 43m,1x4) was very well caught, low down, at short extra cover by Ganesh off Solanki, 77-5 after 22 overs. Fraser Hall joined Olly & immediately drove H Shah (ob) straight for 4. Adding 15 together, in over 29 Olly (23, 45b, 44m) drove H Shah toward mid wicket where Suhas tumbling forward took a low catch. Such a shame he looked assured, faced the most balls & top scored, 93-6.

Matthew Smith joined Fraser (14, 21b, 30m, 2x4) who then stroked Suhas for 4 & 2 to cover before he drove toward extra cover where Goyal took a very good, low catch, 103-7. This became 106-8 when Archit (1) drove back to bowler Suhas who caught him going to his left on follow through. Zara (1) attacking, found Suhas at short extra cover off Gupta (ob) & sadly Matthew (7, 27b 25m,) keen to run for anything, & Dominic had a mix up over a possible second, with Matthew, retreating, run out at the bowler's end. 113 all out at the end of the 39^th over. We battled well.

The Lions were full of praise for the 1864's efforts & encouraged them. Many thanks to both teams for umpiring, to the Lions for the provision of tea & to parents & family members who came to watch. A lot of promise on show. For those beyond the boundary, the temperature was a little less chilly than the week before!

Onward to league match 3 on Sat 3^rd May ; 1864's v Leadgate (h- Belsay) start 1300, 40/40, we hope you can be there to cheer the team on.

Duncan.