WIGHTERS ON FIRE : BURNOPFIELD SUFFER

17th May 2023

  NEPL Premier Division: Sat 13^th May 2023: SNCC v Burnopfield (a) 50/50

SNCC 190-7 (50o) Nikhil Gorantla 37, Chris Hewison 20, Adam Cragg 49, Sam Ewart 19*, Jonny Wightman 21*: Dan Hogg 2-46, Matthew Oswell 3-24, Finlay McGurk 1-29, Paul Brown 0-20 Gareth Breese 1-42, Ruaidhri Barker 0-23.

Burnopfield 119ao (40.4o) David Seymour 31, Ruaidhri Barker 26, Cole Pearce 21*: Jonny Wightman 7-32, Sean Tindale 1-12, Lee Crozier 1-39, Calum Fletcher 0-6, Oli McGee 1-17, Simon Birtwisle 0-9.

SNCC won by 71 runs- 24 points, Burnopfield 3.

Given the rain during the week, both teams were most grateful to the groundsman for enabling the game to take place. The outfield was wet, the wicket not completely dry with a short boundary to the Pavilion side. The Bulls were invited to bat.

Playing forward to the 3^rd ball of the first over, his first, Rob Peyton (0) was lbw to Matthew Oswell. This became 15-2 in the 6^th as Birty (12) edged behind off Oswell. Nikhil & Hewi progressed steadily, Nik taking 2x4 off Hogg in the 9^th & 2x4 off Brown in the 14th.

At 76 in the 19^th Hewi (20) was bowled by McGurk, an important partnership of 61. Adam settled then struck a 6 off Breese in the 24th. In the next over Nik (37,69b,4x4) edged behind off Hogg, 95-4.

In the 26^th Adam struck consecutive 6's off Breese, repeating the shot in the 34th. Scoring was not easy, with some unpredictable bounce, & in the next over Sean (9, 36b) advanced to Breese & was stumped by Pearce. Sam Ewart was watchful.

At 156 in the 44^th Adam (49, 74b 4x6), a pugnacious, important innings, was bowled by Oswell. One run & 3 balls later, Oli (0) was also bowled by Oswell, 157-7. Jonny Wightman joined Sam & the pair added an undefeated 33 for the 8^th wicket, Jonny hitting 6's off Oswell & Hogg to finish 21*(19b 2x6) with Sam 19* (49b 1x4), batting nicely.

In reply Callum Brown & John Oswell faced Wightman & Tindale. 17-3 in the 7^th as Jonny gained lbw decisions against Brown (1), from the 5^th ball of the first over, & Oswell (10) in the 5th, bowling Dinning (3) in the 9th.

Seymour was joined by Barker (26, 39b,1x4, 2x6) & the latter played positively until at 59 in the 23^rd when he was lbw to Tindale. Seymour & Pearce dug in. At 95 in the 34^th Seymour (31, 92b, 2x4) lofted Crozier to Tindale who took the catch, 5 down.

3 runs later Matthew Oswell (3) was caught by Cragg off Wightman. Hogg (10) struck a 6 but at 108 in the 37^th was stumped by Peyton advancing to McGee. In the 39^th McGurk (0) was bowled by Wightman & two overs later Breese (1) & P Brown (0) suffered the same fate, leaving w/k Pearce 21* 119 all out in 40.4 overs on a difficult surface for batting.

Wighters finishing with 7-32, pitching it up & swinging it successfully. 8 for the season, 13 more to get to 500 NEPL wickets! SNCC now second in the Premier Division behind undefeated leaders Benwell Hill.

Upcoming fixtures:

Sun 14^th May: SNCC v Harrogate (h) Nat'l Club Championship R 1,1300, 40o.

Fri 19^th May NEPL SNCC v Gateshead Fell (a) 1800. t20

Sat 20^th May NEPL Premier Division SNCC v Whitburn (h) 1130, 50/50. 

Sun 21st May Banks Salver SNCC v Burnmoor (h) 1330 ,40/40

We hope you can be there.

Duncan.