ACADEMY THWARTED BY THE RAIN AGAIN
6th May 2024
2's coast to win at Sunderland
21st May 2019
The 2nd team managed to dodge the rain to get a full point win at Sunderland on Saturday. With their main rivals seeing their matches abandoned, Ruaidhri Fletcher won the toss and chose to bat. Despite the loss of in-form opener Sam Dale for just 2, they got off to a solid start until Dave Edwards was bowled by Smith (1-39) for 18. Alex Weetman joined John Harbottle and together they put on 68 for the third wicket before the latter was caught for a patient 52 to leave the 2’s at 123-3. Fletcher was caught on the square leg boundary off a dubiously high full toss for just 7, but James Ruddick (25) supported Weetman before both fell in quick succession, Weetman with another excellent knock of 77. Some good running and striking from Ben Sidney-Wilmot (20*) and Gareth Wade (14*) boosted the score to 235-6 when Fletcher declared after 46 overs.
Gareth Wade (1-23) and James Ruddick (0-17) opened up as the stiffs looked to bowl Sunderland out before the promised rain arrived. The former Northants man (not Ruddick) bowled with great pace and bounce but without luck, until he took a spectacular return catch to dismiss Brigham for 26. Johnson played on to Dale for 30 with the score 58-2, and Brown (3) quickly followed as he fell to Will Varley (1-21) but it was the introduction of Richard Brook that quickly concluded the game; he claimed 7 wickets for just 17 runs, skittling the opposition out for just 94 after being 76-3.
The 2’s are next in action next weekend with two home fixtures against Newcastle in the league and Felling in the Banks Bowl.