WILLIAMS LATE ASSAULT PUTS ASHINGTON IN BOX SEAT AS CHARNLEY LEADS BULLS RESISTANCE TO LOSING DRAW

12th Jun 2023

      NEPL Div 2: Sat 10^th June 2023: SNCC v Ashington (h) 105 overs.

Ashington 261-8 (52o) Michael Levison 28, John Turnbull 25, Alex Nice 26, Alex Storey 41, Greg Williams 85: Allan Davidson 1-33, Gavin Paton 1-63, Sadiq Khan 3-47, Nathan Gough 0-22, James Lunn 0-49, George Gray 1-32, Ru Fletcher 2-7.

SNCC 192-7 (53o) Alex Charnley 94, Angus Southern 14, Ru Fletcher 37, Gavin Paton 14*: Matthew Potts 2-40, Alex Nice 3-24, Alex Storey 1-55, Matthew Storey 1-28, Paul Rutherford 0-34.

Winning draw Ashington-17 points, losing draw SNCC-10 points.

In taking an explosive 66 from the last 4 overs of their innings, courtesy of 9 x 6 from Greg Williams, Ashington established a total unlikely to be threatened & so it proved to be. After last Sunday's mauling in the Banks Bowl against the same opposition, the Bulls determination not to be defeated, led by Alex Charnley's exemplary 94, was achieved. 

The visitors were invited to bat on a warm, sunny day at Roseworth Terrace. Levison & Alderson faced Davidson & Paton. A rather wayward start allowed runs to flow. But at 43 Alderson (8) was very well caught by a diving Ru at cover off Allan. At the same score Levison (28, 31b, 5x4) drove Sadiq hard to mid on where Angus took a good catch, 43-2.

Turnbull & Potts continued facing Sadiq's leg spin & Nathan's left arm seam. At 83 Potts (15) was very well caught to his right at slip by Allan off Sadiq & one run later, Turnbull (25) hit Sadiq hard to mid on where Angus again obliged. Nice & A Storey pushed on until at 146 Storey (41, 58b,4x4) edged George to w/k Alex.

A repeat at 160 saw Nice (26) edge Gavin behind to w/k Alex W, 160-6. The Bulls had reigned in the scoring but there followed an explosive partnership of 101 between Williams & M Storey which took the game away from the home team.

Over 49-10, over 50- 32, over 51-17, over 52-7 including two wickets to Ru of Williams 85 (88b10x6,1x4) & next ball Robinson (0) caught by Sadiq at mid-wicket & the declaration at 261-8 after 52 overs. Greg Williams had struck 9 x 6 (10 in all) in this spell including 5x6 in the 50^th when Lunny, 5 overs for 17, but then couldn't find the right length in his 6th & the beech hedge was the repository: & 4 x 6 went over long on; amazing hitting over distance. Amid this mayhem, Sadiq's 11-3- 47-3 was the pick of the bowling.

The Bulls reply was steady. Jacob (0) chased a wide one off Nice at 12 & at 46 Angus (14) did the same. Two balls later Nathan (0) aimed to hit over the top but found mid-off, 46-3.

A solid partnership of 68 between Alex C & Ru saw the total rise to 114 when Ru (37,77b 4x4) 'edged' to w/k Williams off Potts. At 127 Sadiq (5) attacking, was caught by Nice at point & at 159 Alex W (8) left one but was bowled by Alex Storey.

Alex C had batted well for 50 overs, hitting to mid-wicket or clipping of his legs & was within sight of a century, when, perhaps fatigued, he too chased a wide one to edge behind for a battling 94 (129b, 12x4), from the first ball of the 51^st over.

Lunny (8*) & Gavin (14*), including a 6 from the last ball, saw out the draw after 53 overs at 192-7; not ideal but necessary to garner as many points as possible. The Bulls remain 9^th of 12 in Division 2 & need to find complete performances to secure important points in the next 5 games, 3 of which are at home.

Sat 17^th June, NEPL Division 2, SNCC v Sunderland (a) 1200, 105 overs

We hope you can be there.