BEN JONES-LEE (49- b 29/10/1976- d 30/04/2026)
4th May 2026
A WELCOME WIN AS MIDWEEK BULLS DEFEAT BATES COTTAGES. Thurs 4 June 2026: NTCL Midweek Open League: SNCC v Bates Cottages (h) 20/20.
4th Jun 2026
SNCC 164-2 (20o) Ben West 13, Tom Seymour 85*, George McConnell 8, Joseph Dresser 52*: Tom Wright 1-33, Ashton O'Brien 0-31, Craig Wood 0-19, Sam Morgan 0-33, Jamie Merryweather 0-28, Ryan Coetzee 0-28.
Bates Cottages 85ao (19.3o) Ryan Cootzee 26, Sam Morgan 11, Craig Wood 12*: Joseph Dresser 1-13, George McConnell 4-10, Leo Harper 2-24, Daylan Deen-Wiliams 1-12, Daid Cragg 2-12, Matt Williams 0-5.
SNCC won by 79runs- 10 points, Bates Cottages 1.
On a sunny Thursday early evening, as the Club mourned the death of Ben Jones-Lee, the midweek Bulls made a pleasing return to winning ways by defeating Bates Cottages. The visitors asked the Bulls to bat. Ben West & Tom Seymour faced the seam of Wright & O'Brien.
Ben shaped nicely but having got to 13 in the6th over, an overoptimistic call for a single to the opposition's pro at mid wicket, led to a direct hit run out at the bowlers end, 44-1 Tom on 28. George McConnell stroked 8 but then missed a straight one at 63 in the 9th, Tom 39*.
Tom & Joseph Dresser then put together an undefeated partnership of 101in 11 overs to provide the Bulls with a total to defend. Joseph driving through cover off the back foot & pulling to leg, Tom, having survived a dropped catch in the 50's driving down the ground but also off the back foot into the legside.
Bates used 6 bowlers in pursuit of a breakthrough but none came, and at the end of 20 overs the Bulls had amassed 164-2, Tom 85*, Joseph 52*.
In reply Phil Merryweather & Andrew Jordan faced the seam of Joseph Dresser (rm) & George McConnell (lm). George, around the wicket, persuaded Merryweather (4) to play on in the second over & in the 4th Jordan (7) was bowled.
In the 5th Stephen Harper took a stunning catch as Khan (3) inside edged Joseph to leg only to see Stephen change direction & take a wonderful catch low to his left on one hand. The celebration was Sheareresque !
Wayne O'Brien (0) succumbed to George in the 8th, bowled. Leo Harper joined the attack & suffered in his first conceding 15. But to his credit he bounced back & in his second over Ryan Cootzee (26) was very well caught by Will Oliver at ankle height, diving forward at mid on. Leo struck again in over 13 as Doyle (4) chipped again to Will Oliver at mid on.
In Daylan's third over, the 14th, Wright (10) was bowled, top of off stump. Enter David Cragg who promptly took two wickets. Morgan (11) was bowled sweeping & in his next Ashton O'Brien was lbw on the back foot. Matt Williams 2 overs were wicket less so George returned in the last over & from the 3rd ball bowled Jamie Merryweather (0) to win the game & a full 10 points.
Onward to Thurs11th June SNCC Midweek Bulls v Blyth (a) 20/20 from 1800. We hope you can be there.
Duncan.