LOSING DRAW AS BULLS UNABLE TO DEFEND A DECENT TOTAL.

3rd Jun 2024

      LOSING DRAW AS BULLS UNABLE TO DEFEND A DECENT TOTAL.

      NEPL Div 2 Sat 1^st June 2024: SNCC v Hetton Lyons (h) 105overs.

SNCC 220ao (54.5o) Ru Fletcher 85, David Edwards 27, Nathan Gough 18, James Lunn 19, Gavin Paton 37: Arron Watson 1-49, Gary Adey 2-45, Taylor Moulder 3-46, Joe Keegan 4-56, Ethan Dixon 0-14.

Hetton Lyons 208-7 (50o) David Lowther 74, Dan Walker 36, Harrison Lowther 48: Gavin Paton 2-51, Finlay Pearce 0-38, George Gray 1-43, Ben Hobbs 0-14, James Lunn 0-28, Nathan Gough 3-30.

Match drawn : Hetton Lyons win draw 18 points: SNCC lose draw 10.

In the first of the win/lose/draw matches, as the sun shone, the Bulls were asked to bat first on a surface showing a little variation where timing was elusive & if the bowling was accurate, run scoring was not risk free.

At 29 in the 10^th over Nick Tomlinson (7) drove hard to cover where Lawson held a good low catch. Angus Southern (1) was bowled through the gate by Watson in the next over. Ru & David Edwards got to 50 at first drinks with the rm of Watson & Adey unchanged.

64-2 after 20 overs, Ru 39* (8x4), after which Moulder (ob) & Keegan (rm) took over, both bowling a good length. At 83 in the 25^th David (27,36b, 4x4) aiming to cut Moulder was caught by w/k Tomys. 50 for Ru in the 32^nd then in the 34^th Nathan (18,34b,1x4) edged Keegan to w/k Tomys, 112-3.

Alex (2) aiming to pull Moulder was bowled at 117 & George (2) aiming to cut Moulder was caught behind at 129, 6 down. A partnership of 35 saw Lunny struck 1x6 but at 164 in the 46^th he (19, 29b 1x6) lobbed Adey to Watson at mid wicket who did not have to move.

In the 49^th Ru's excellent innings (85, 133b, 8x4) ended as he drove Keegan to long off to be caught by D Lowther, 179-7. Patience mattered on a slow, still slightly unpredictable surface. Gavin was joined by Finlay. In the last 4 overs 35 were scored as Gavin accelerated.

 Finlay (5) was caught by Lowther at mid off, Keegan the bowler. Gav dispatched 2x6 to the houses & 2x4, one to mid wicket & one to long on only being caught from the 4^th ball of the last over at long off for a sparkling 37 (28b, 2x4, 2x6).

The Lyons reply began with Tomys (0) adjudged lbw to Gavin from the first ball of the innings, somewhat to his disbelief. Lawson (1) drove hard to cover in the 3^rd over where George held a very good, low catch to his right, 3-2. Despite 3 maidens in the first 4 overs Walker & D Lowther batted positively on a seemingly faster surface after afternoon sun, despatching over pitched or short deliveries to the boundary.

In the 11^th over, Gavin's 6th, 2 dropped chances in two balls gave lives to Walker on 11* both tough, but Gav, off is own bowling,  & Nick at mid off, will be disappointed. George Gray & Ben Hobbs entered the attack but were both driven or pulled. 65 -2 at 17 over first drinks D Lowther 39* became 79-2 in the 20^th as Lowther brought up his 50*.

In over 22 Walker (36, 64b,4x4,1x6) slog swept George for 6 to mid wicket but skied the next for Lunny to take the catch at cover, 91-3. Despite a maiden for Lunny in the 25^th George suffered again as D Lowther pulled for 6 to mid wicket. The innings was bedevilled by one bad ball an over.

At 114-3 in the 28^th Nathan (lm) began a 12 over spell from the Park end which was the best of the day. In his 4^th D Lowther (74,91b, 8x4,4x6) was bowled off stump as one swung back in, 138-4. Another life in the next as H Lowther's firm drive escaped David at mid off. Gavin had rejoined the attack & the score had risen to 158 after 40 overs when Gregor Pearce appeared as a substitute fielder for Ru.

Finlay, Lunny & Gav were given short spells as Nathan continued. At 175 in the 44^th Dixon (14) edged Nathan to w/k Alex, 5 down. Another chance went begging at long on in the 46^th but at 192 in the 48^th H Lowther (48, 80b,6x4,1x6) drove Nathan  to long on where sub Gregor took a tumbling catch.

In  the next Watson (14) was run out, Gregor the fielder,197-7. 202 was the winning draw total & in the last over, the 50^th, Moulder drove twice through cover to secure it. Nathan's 12 over spell, 3-30, stood out.

Clearly the wicket flattened in the second innings but too many 4 balls & 5 dropped catches released any pressure that was built & enabled a positive Lyons batting display to secure the winning draw. 

Onward to Sat 8^th June SNCC v Tynemouth (a) (w/l/d 105 overs) 1200 start. We hope you can be there to cheer the Bulls on.

Duncan.