MCGEE PROVIDES THE MOMENTUM AS BULLS DEFEAT NEWCASTLE

2nd May 2023

NEPL Premier Division: SNCC v Newcastle (h) Sat 29^th April 2023. 50/50

SNCC 184 ao (49.1o) Rob Peyton 40, Nikhil Gorantla 27, Chris Hewison 32, Sean Tindale 16, Oli McGee 38: George Darwood 3-24, Ronan Hogarth 0-20, Isaac Unsworth 1-41, Mohsin Mukhtar 1-44, Jaques du Toit 3-24, Brodie Glendinning 0-24

Newcastle 104 ao (38o) Bobby Green 15, Tomas Mackintosh 12, Mohsin Mukhtar 22, George Darwood 13, Jaques du Toit 12: Jonny Wightman 0-16, Sean Tindale 2-19, Bastiaan de Leede 0-24, Calum Fletcher 1-4, Lee Crozier 3-18, Oli McGee 4-24.

SNCC win by 80 runs - 24 points, Newcastle 4.

A cold, damp day welcomed the first match of the 2023 season at Roseworth Terrace. Newcastle won the toss & invited the Bulls to bat; Birty & Rob faced Darwood & Unsworth.

Accurate bowling on a slow wicket where forcing shots were risky, saw the total reach 17 in the 9th before Birty (5), driving, was bowled by Darwood. Making his SN debut at no 3, Nikhil Gorantla (Essex CCC & Durham Univ), busy at the crease, playing late & effectively, especially square on the offside, in company with Rob, opening for the first time, saw the total rise steadily to 68 in the 22^nd over, when Nik, aiming to steer Unsworth to third man, feathered behind for 27 (3x4) from only 35 balls, an important partnership of 51.

A majestic straight 6 off Unsworth from Rob but 3 overs later he pulled du Toit to Green a midwicket, for a good 40 (90b,1x4,1x6), 83-3. Hewi was joined by Bastiaan de Leede (Durham CCC & Netherlands all-rounder) also on debut. An attacking mind set but Bas (6) found Glendinning at long on off Du Toit at 111 in the 36th.

Adam Cragg (1) was defeated by a direct hit to the non-striker's end, as the opportunity for a single with Hewi was not shared, 117-5 & at 126 in the 40th, Hewi 32, (61b, 2x4), who had rotated & batted nicely, was lbw to Mukhtar, the game now seemingly in the balance.

There followed a match defining partnership of 55 between, ex Newcastle players, Sean Tindale & Oli McGee. Sean (16, 23b 1x4) & Oli (38, 29b, 4x4 2x6). Overs 44 -47 yielding 44 runs including 2x6 to Oli, one to the flats & another along Roseworth Terrace & three boundaries in an over off Darwood in the 47th.

Sean was caught at long off by Glendinning off Du Toit in the 48^th at 181 & Oli also by Glendinning off Darwood, 3 balls later at the same score. Calum (1) was then bowled by Darwood & Jonny (0), as non-striker, run out in the last over leaving Lee 2*, 184 all out; a better total than had once seemed likely & defendable.

Bobby Green (c) & Ben Robinson faced Jonny Wightman & Sean Tindale. Robinson (6) was lbw to Sean from the last ball of the 4^th over, 14-1. Bobby (15) had batted positively but at 21 in the 6^th Sean got one to bounce a bit & the edge behind was taken by Rob.

Sharp in pace but bedevilled by wides & no balls, Bas & then Cal took up the seam attack. Cal bowled well, 4-2-4-1, with Mackintosh hitting a rare long hop to cover where Craggy took the catch, 40-3 in the 13th.

Although Mukhtar & Darwood produced a partnership of 39 it was circumspect going & the innings seemed to lose momentum. More positive intent after tea, but in over 27 Oli had Darwood (13) lbw, 79-4. Two overs later Mukhtar, feeling an ankle perhaps, (22) charged Crozier but found Bas at long on, 82-5.

3 runs later Trevaskis (1) succumbed to an excellent, sharp reaction catch by Rob, standing up to McGee, one handed off a deflection. Du Toit found the slow surface inhibiting & then Stewart (1) was lbw to Crozier, in the 33rd, 86-7.

Hogarth (5) was caught at slip by Birty off Oli in the 36th, 99-8 & at the same score Du Toit (12) found Hewi at deep mid wicket off Lee. In the 38^th with the total at 104, Unsworth (0) was stumped by Rob off Oli. Lee & Oli 16-2-42-7, exemplary !

A comprehensive win by 80 runs where the batting depth & then unrelenting, bowling strength of the Bulls in the conditions, prevailed. Onward !

Sat 6^th May sees a visit to Denton Bank to play Benwell Hill, also victors on Sat. We hope you can be there.

Duncan.