ACADEMY GAIN CONVINCING WIN OVER SEAHAM HARBOUR. SAM LEE STARS WITH 6 WICKETS. Sun 17 May 20

17th May 2026

Seaham Harbour 129-9 (40o) Fraser Wright 11, Caleb Lowerson-Marshall 14, Eden Elstob 15, Athena Elstob 40*, Luca Wright 27: Thomas Hunter 1-22, George McConnell 2-15, Sam Lee 6-15, Elliott Mee 0-22, Manas Kakkar 0-22, Matthew Smith 0-28.

SNCC Academy 130-4 (25.2o) Aadi Bethanabatla 26, Olly Alexander 37, Jan Ozmen 38: Chris Richardson 1-15, James Rochester 0-34, Fraser Wright 0-36, Alfie Churlish 0-18, Jack Bainbridge 2-11, Caleb Lowerson-Marshall 1-9.

SNCC Academy won by 6 wickets- 21 points, Seaham Harbour 9.

A sunny day at Roseworth Terrace, the visitors won the toss & chose to bat. Lowerson- Marshall & Spencer faced the left arm seam of Thomas Hunter (Grove) & George McConnell (Park). A maiden to begin from Hunter, heartening, & then success in over 2 as McConnell bowled Spencer (0).

After all the recent rain the used wicket was slow with little bounce or carry. In over 9 Wright (11) edged Hunter low for w/k Carr to take a neat catch, 24-2. In the next over, Sam Lee's first, Churlish, back & infront, was lbw, full & straight, 25-3.

Elliott Mee began an 8 over spell of leg breaks from the Grove end with flight & a quicker one. The total had reached 34 in the 16^th when Lowerson-Marshall (14) carved into the offside for Ozmen to take a nice catch retreating at point off Lee. In his next, Eden Elstob (15) essayed a big shot but was bowled, 43-5. Sam's first spell ended 6-2-12-3  exemplary. 46-5 at halfway drinks, Elliott 5 overs for 10 & Athena Elstob's first scoring shot off him was edged for 2 past the vacant first slip.

Athena Elstob & Luca Wright then produced a handy  partnership of 64 as Elliott, perhaps trying too many variations, Manas Kakkar (rm) & then Matthew Smith (rm) sought a breakthrough. Athena finding the spaces behind point, no catchers in the gully area, & towards long leg. At 77-5, Thomas Hunter returned in over 27 & finished with 8-1-22-1, a tidy contribution.

In over 33 George McConnell returned at the Grove end & bowled L Wright (27) with a good yorker, 107-6. Matthew's inconsistent length offered scoring opportunities & the total had risen to 121 after 37 when Sam Lee returned taking two in two balls bowling both  Stephenson (5) & Rochester (0) full & straight. In the 40^th over Richardson (4) skied into the off side for Aadi, turning & retreating, to take a good catch over his head catch, also off Sam.

Seaham Harbour ended 129 -9, Sam Lee's best ever bowling performance 8-2-15-6  a reward for bowling straight at a good pace & in a nice rhythm. George supported well with 8-1-15-2. The fielding was good with minor blemishes.

In reply Aadi Bethanabatla & Olly Alexander faced the seam of Richardson (Grove ) & Rochester (Park) & a ring field with 2 slips & a gully. Richardson was economical but Rochester's length & direction were awry. 49 without loss after 10 overs, Aadi 22* Olly 18*.

In over 11 Aadi (26, 41b, 3x4) struck a confident boundary through the covers but 2 balls later was bowled by a good Richardson yorker, 53-1. Jan Ozmen joined Olly & batted with intent, F Wright's medium pace suffering as variations of length were punished, Churlish's off spin was more economical. At half way drinks the total was 100. Olly 31* Jan 30* (5x4) cutting nicely.

Bainbridge (rm) began with two wides but with the last ball of his first over Jan (38, 38b, 6x4) was lbw working to leg, 114-2 after 22 overs. In the 25th & to his chagrin, Olly ( 37, 58b, 3x4) lofted the gentle leg spin of Lowerson-Marshall to deep mid on & in the next over from Bainbridge, Waheed Safi (1) aimed to pull but played on, 127-4.

Will Carr (5* 1x4 to mid wicket) & Sam Lee (0*) saw the Academy home with two lots of 2 wides !!. A pity the last wicket could not be taken. More attacking fields to new batters might have been rewarded.

Onward to Sunday 24^th May, SNCC Academy v Benwell Hill (h) 40/40 from 1330. We hope you can be there.

Duncan.