WINNING DRAW AT WHITBURN FOR THE 1s

14th May 2018

The 1st X1 had a mixed weekend. Posting a substantial 242 on Saturday but then taking only 6 Whitburn wickets to record a 13 point winning draw in the NEPL, leaving them second behind Hetton Lyons in the Premier Division, before travelling to North Yorkshire on Sunday, without Captain Adam Cragg & Liam Trevaskis, & not mastering spin, going down to a 4 wicket defeat in a reduced 32 over/side match at NYSD leaders Richmondshire.

Score Card: http://sncc.play-cricket.com/website/results/3328089

SNCC 242 ao. (53 overs) Dale 40, Graham 42, Trevaskis 30, Tindale 32, Peyton 24, Stanyon 29.

Waterson, 4-61, Muchall 4-41, Smith 2-59

WHITBURN 193-6 (57 overs) Edmondstone 79, McBride 27. Trevaskis 3-46, Wightman 1-39, Crozier 1-28, Stanyon 1-35

On a firm surface under sunny skies SNCC opted to bat. Simon Birtwisle struck 3 boundaries in 8 balls but, after a lost ball break, was immediately lbw to Smith for 12. Sam Dale, making his debut as an opener, began cautiously, leaving well & with John Graham steadily built a second wicket partnership against the home team's experienced, 4 pronged seam attack.

At 91 Dale drove Muchall to extra cover for a very valuable 40 (9x4). The fast outfield made it 4 or 1, 19 fours were struck in 24 overs. John Graham edged to 1st slip at 113 for 42 (8x4), whereupon new father, Adam Cragg, dragged his first ball on, 113-4 in the 28th.

Liam Trevaskis, mixing watchfulness with explosive intent, had reached 30 (5x4), when he chipped Muchall to backward square leg. There followed an entertaining partnership of 47 between Sean Tindale (32) & Rob Peyton (24) before the latter drove Waterson to extra cover. Andrew Doig was adjudged lbw second ball, 182-7 in the 42nd.

Richard Stanyon, driving down the ground with style, joined Tindale before SJT edged behind off Waterson for 32. A Jonny Wightman cameo saw a 4 & a 6 before becoming Stewart's third catch in the covers, leaving Lee Crozier to fashion an important 14* as Richard Stanyon finally succumbed to Smith for 29 in the 53rd over.

Lee Henderson was caught off Wightman by a retreating Doig at cover for 9 , a good catch over his shoulder, 21-1 in the 5th. Chris McBride & Jackson Edmondstone batted well to take the score to 79 before McBride was lbw to Trevaskis for 27. In form Phil Bell got off the mark with a sublime straight drive but at 15 Crozier found the edge & w/k Peyton took the catch, 100-3 in the 24th.

Punishing anything short or overpitched Edmondstone continued busily but at 131, number 5, w/k Craig Henderson was bowled by Trevaskis for 7 &, 8 runs later, Markham was yorked by Stanyon for 4. The key wicket of Edmondstone (79, 11x4) followed as Trevaskis held a sharp caught & bowled at 155.

After a watchful start, Elliott & Stewart decided a draw was the limit of Whitburn's ambition & despite bowling changes & attacking field settings, 7 maidens in the last 11 overs saw the game peter out at 193-6 after 57. Some rather idiosyncratic playing of the short ball by Stewart led to the umpires conferring about the light..... which was fine !

13 points for the Bulls, 9 to Whitburn, a rather tame ending in truth when only 6 down.

Author: Duncan Stephen