SADIQ & ALEX GO LARGE: ALLAN IS ACCURATE THEN GEORGE'S 5FER ON DEBUT BRIGHTENS A GRAY DAY!

1st May 2023

NEPL Division 2 Sat 29^th April 2023 v Newcastle (a) at Medicals, Heaton.

SNCC 283-7 (50o) Sadiq Khan 94, Alex Weetman 67, Ru Fletcher 44, Gavin Paton 18, James Lunn 15*: Chris Miller 3-30, Patrick McMorran 1-36, Nikul Gowda 2-59, Dan Humble 1-48.

Newcastle 185ao (43.5o) Dan Humble 71, Hamzah Amin 49, Shyam Moudhgalya 28 : Allan Davidson 2-2, Gavin Paton 0-32, Sadiq Khan 0-50, Ben Hobbs 1-36, Ru Fletcher 0-25, James Lunn 2-24, George Gray 5-14.

SNCC won by 90 runs - 24 points, Newcastle 6.

A cold, damp day in Heaton on a slow, green wicket, where the ball plugged in the outfield, for everyone's first grass experience of 2023. Shortish boundaries on three sides seemed attractive as the visitors were inserted

A sticky start as Alex Charnley (4) under edged behind off Miller at 9 & Sam Ewart (11) seemed unlucky to be adjudged lbw at 47, Sadiq 28. Alex & Sadiq then fashioned a match defining partnership of 137. Sadiq driving straight & often & Alex punishing anything short, which only came to an end at 184 when Alex (67: 78b, 7x4) was caught by Gibson off Miller.

Sadiq followed 11 runs later for a delightfully controlled 94 (102b,8x4,5x6), 195-4. Angus (11) succumbed to Humble but the momentum was more than maintained as 80 runs came from the last 7 overs as Ru (44: 30b,5x4,2x6), James 15* (1x4, 1x6) & Gavin (18, 1x4, 2x6) plundered. 283-7 after 50 overs, an excellent total on a slow wicket.

Allan's opening spell was full & accurate. After 3 maidens, his reward came in his 5th, when bowling both Poll (0) & Gibson (0), conceding only 2 runs, one of which was a wide, lovely bowling on such a wicket, 20-2 in the 9^th 5 overs, 3 maidens, 2-2.

Humble & Amin then set sail punishing Gavin & Sadiq when they overpitched. Ben suffered too as width was equally vulnerable. The total had reached 93 when, in James Lunn's 3^rd over of off spin, the 23rd, Sam Ewart smartly stumped the dangerous Amin (49, 8x4 1x6). The rate slowed & Stenhouse (0), on the back foot, was bowled by James, 100 in the 25th.

On debut, U16 George Gray's off breaks entered the attack in the 29^th over. His second ball turned sharply & bowled Gowda (3), 125-5. In his next, the left-handed Miller was bowled by one that kept low, 131-6.

Humble & Moudhgalya attacked but at 158 Humble's drive found Alex at backward point, a splendid innings of 71 (8x4, 1x6). A repeat dismissal 2 overs later as Moudhgalya found Alex, again at backward point off George, 170-8 off 39 overs. In the middle of all this Alex found time to parry a boundary shot over the bar for 6 !!

From the first ball of his next over, Darwood drove to mid-off where Alex took the catch to give George a 5 fer on debut !! Marvellous, a day to remember!... 175-9. One over later, Ben returned to bowl McMorran (1) leaving Newcastle all out for 185 in the 44th.

A good, all-round performance for a first grass outing of the season. Things to work on but a heartening display, especially memorable for George 8-3-14-5, debuts don't get any better !!.. & some good fielding from the team.

Onward to Benwell Hill (h), Sat 6^th May 2023, we hope you can be there.

Duncan.