WINNING DRAW KEEPS BULLS ON TOP BY 17 POINTS

8th Jul 2019

NEPL PREMIER DIVISION: 12/22:  SAT 6TH JULY 2019.

SN 220- 8 dec (57o: Simon Birtwisle 45, Sean Tindale 27, Adam Cragg 63*, Oli McGee 22: Karl Turner 0-43, Jonny Malkin 2-36, Cameron Grimwood 2-49, Ryan Clark 2-63, Luke Husband 0-16, Chris Winn 1-9)

Hetton Lyons 172-7 (53o: Karl Turner 29, Chris Martin 24, Ryan Clark 50*: Jonny Wightman 0-39, Sean Tindale 1-66, Lee Crozier 3-16, Oli McGee 3-46, Simon Birtwisle 0-1)

SN winning draw 12 points: Hetton Lyons 7.

A day when the slower bowlers bowled 78 of the available 110 overs on a responsive pitch made for slow going in parts as concentration & patience were needed. Winning the toss & batting, Simon Birtwisle & Chris Hewison faced the pace of Karl Turner & the off spin of visiting skipper, Jonny Malkin. Malkin bowled 15 overs unchanged from the Grove end & in his third had Hewison (10), aiming to go over the top, was caught low down at mid on by McKinney, 19-1 in the 5th.

Turner was more expensive as Birty found some form driving & pulling  three consecutive boundaries in the 16th over as the score moved to 66-1. Grimwood replaced Turner & in his third over had Tindale (27), on the back foot, caught at the wicket by Clay. 73-2. John Graham (9), aiming to be positive was stumped by Clay advancing to Malkin, 86-3. Jacques Du Toit despatched his first two deliveries for 4 before, in the next over from Grimwood, feathering a catch behind. 97-4 in the 28th.

Adam Cragg joined Birty but at 105 in the 33rd, Birty (45) mistimed a sweep off Clark to be caught at short fine leg. An unfortunate end to an important innings. Rob Peyton (12) was positive before he misjudged Clark to be lbw. 129-6 at lunch after 43 overs.

The post lunch period was dominated by Cragg sweeps, orthodox or reverse.  In partnership with Michael Craigs the total had reached 158 in the 49th when, in responding to sharp single, Craigs (9) failed to beat Walker's direct hit at the striker's end. More runs needed, enter Oli McGee & the left handed pair added 41 in an enterprising stand for the 8th wicket before McGee (22 including one majestic 6 to wide long on) lofted Winn to long off where Walker took the catch, 199-8 after two balls of the penultimate over. Cragg (63*, 8x4, 86b, 91m) & Jonny Wightman (9*, 5b) continued to attack & the Captain declared the innings closed at 220-8 after two boundaries in the 57th. A very important contribution.

Turner & McKinney faced the pace of Wightman & Tindale. The visitors had steadily taken 43 from the first 15 overs. Crozier had replaced Wightman at the Park end & then McGee from the Grove persuaded Turner (27) to slog sweep towards mid wicket where Michael Craigs took a hard catch above his head with aplomb. 44-1. This soon became 44-2 as McKinney (14) was bowled by a McGee slower one in the 18th.

With McGee & Crozier in tandem some control was established & in his 6th over Lee got one to bounce & Walker (7) was caught by a diving Du Toit via Peyton's pad, 54-3. 10 runs later Clay's outside edge was found by Crozier's drift & Du Toit obliged with a second slip catch, 64-4 after 27 overs at tea.

At 85 in the 35th, Malkin (17) was adjudged lbw to Crozier. Martin, who had defended stoutly, was joined by Winn. The latter showed positive intent before fending a short ball from Tindale to Hewison in the gully for 11, 102-6. Martin (24) then drove at McGee for Hewison to dive to his right at silly mid off to take the catch. 116-7, 8 overs to go but Clark was obdurate &, taking advantage of attacking fields & some fortune, hit 9 boundaries as bowlers switched ends striving for the breakthrough.

None came & Clark reached a well merited 50* in the last, 53rd over, in company with Grimwood 8*.

A winning draw & 12 points. A win for Tynemouth & a defeat for Burnmoor saw the Bulls retain their leading position by 17 from Tynemouth & 19 from Burnmoor after 12 games. 10 to go, all hard. Not firing on all cylinders, need to strive for greater consistency, work to do.

Saturday 13th July:   NEPL Premier Division 13/22 : SNCC v Whitburn (h) 1200.

Sunday    14th July:   NEPL T20 finals day at Burnmoor.

                                      SNCC v Burnmoor 1100, CLS v Willington c 1400: Final c 1700.

We hope to see you there.

DDS