1864'S GO SECOND IN NTCL DIV 5 SOUTH WITH GOOD WIN OVER STAMFORDHAM. Sat 4 July 2026, NTCL Div 5 South: SNCC 1864 v Stamfordham (h) 40/40.

4th Jul 2026

Stamfordham 187-5 (40o) A Riley 42, A McGrath 22, J Atkinson 50, R Chintakayla 31*: George Gray 0-13, George McConnell 2-34, Tom Oliver 0-13, Arjun Godse 1-40, Dominic Johnson 1-20, Nick Tomlinson 0-46, Aadi Bethanabatla 1-16.

SNCC 1864 189-5 (36o) Nick Tomlinson 78, George Gray 30, George McConnell 45, Matty Rathbone 16*, Matthew Smith 7*: C Johnson 0-44, S Thotalu 2-38, J Turnbull 2037, G Devine 0-41, F Seby 1-22.

SNCC 1864 won by 5 wickets- 27 points, Stamfordham 7.

A cloudy day with a breeze welcomed players to Belsay. The 64's won the toss & chose to field. Riley & Devine faced the cross seam of George Gray off 4 paces & left arm around  of George McConnell. Three maidens ensued & the batters seemed to lack intent for although no wickets fell, George G bowled his 9 over spell for only 13. The total was 50 without loss after 18 overs which included 4 from Tom Oliver (lm)

Arjun Godse & Dominic Johnson began spells & in Dominic's second, the 21^st Devine (16) drove to mid off where Tom took a neat catch, 57-1. Three overs later Riley (42, 86b 4x4) chipped to square leg where Tom took another catch, 65-2. McGrath struck 6,4,4 but both he &  Atkinson were content to tick along as George McC returned & Nick Tomlinson entered the attack.

At 103 in the 30^th McGrath (22) aiming to hit over the  top, only succeeded in chipping to mid on in Aadi's only over where Arjun took the catch. Chintakayla & Atkinson became more adventurous as the innings entered the last 7 overs, Arjun & Nick suffering  as Atkinson hit to leg or straight. 

At 169 in the 38^th Atkinson (50,60b, 7x4) was caught by George G at mid wicket  off George McC. Currie hit a 6 but perished in the last, edging to w/k Matty Rathbone off George McC, 185-5. The innings closed at 187-5, Chintakayla 31*. Not quite a par score for the short square boundaries at Belsay.

There were some dropped catches but Tom Oliver & Matty Rathbone led the way in the field.

In reply Nick Tomlinson & Aadi Bethanabatla faced the left arm seam of Johnson & right arm of Thotalu. A maiden but after two away swinging wides from Thotalu, Aadi (0) succumbed to the inswinger & was bowled. George Gray joined Nick who after 4, 2 off Thotalu  was content to push for singles whilst George G took a liking to Johnson taking 6,6,1,4 & in the next 4,4,1 from Thotalu with fluent pick ups to leg & cover drives.

Sadly at 47 in the 8^th George (30, 19b, 3x4, 3x6) was caught at deep square leg aiming for 6 more. George McC joined Nick & was equally positive, lifting  Turnbull for 4 then pulling Devine's off spin for 6, then repeating the dose off Johnon in the 17^th over by which time the total had risen to 92. Stamfordham had been 41-0 at the same stage.

Turnbull began a second spell in the 23^rd & Nick reached 50* in the next, but in the 25^th two wickets as first George McC (45, 40b, 3x4 3x6) was caught at square leg by Johnson & after a 2 first ball, Belinda (2) cover driving, was well caught by McGrath at ankle height moving in, 134-4 after 25 overs.

Nick's serene progress continued as Matty Rathbone settled. The total had reached 159 after over 31 then in the next Nick struck 3x4 sweeping the spin or driving straight off Devine. In over 34 Nick (78, 106b,10x4) aimed to drive but skewed to point where Thotalu took the catch off Seby's slow bowling. Another exemplary innings from Nick ,179-5.

Matthew Smith joined Matty R & struck 7* in a few balls. The winning runs came in the 36^th over as Seby conceded 8. Matty Rathbone 16*, Matthew Smith 7*, a sensible chase.

The 64's rise to second in NTCL Div 5 South on 254 points overtaking Stamfordham on 239 but 32 behind leaders Annfield Plain. 

Onward to Sat 11 July 1864 v Humshaugh (a) 40/40 from 1300. We hope you can be there.

Duncan.