BULLS BOWLERS SET UP CONVINCING VICTORY OVER SEAHAM HARBOUR. Sat 25th April 2026: NEPL Premier Division: SNCC v Seaham Harbour (h) 100o

25th Apr 2026

Seaham Harbour 116ao (33.4o) Steven Gale 24, Junaid Khan 18, Jake Pattison 20, Dale Marshall 24: Jonny Wightman 2-11, Jonny Bushnell 0-40, Calum Fletcher 2-11, Will Alexander 3-22, Oli McGee 0-12, George Drissell 2-14.

SNCC 117-1 (19.3o) Chris Hewison 71*, Sol Bell 10, George Drissell 31*: Junaid Khan 1-18, Dale Marshall 0-29, Craig Marshall 0-29, Mickey Allan 0-15, Regan Pattison 0-21, Jake Pattison 0-2.

SNCC won by 9 wickets - 24 points, Seaham Harbour 0.

A sunny day with scudding cloud welcomed newly promoted Seaham Harbour to Roseworth Terrace. The Bulls showed one change with Sam Ewart taking the gloves in the absence of Rob Peyton. The pitch seemed to contain some moisture & on winning the toss the visitors were asked to bat.

Gale(rh) & Shurben (lh) faced the seam of Wightman (rm Grove) & Bushnell (rm Park).A watchful opening as the ball swung & moved off the pitch & at 11 in the 5^th Wighters swung one into the left handed Shurben (2) & bowled him. Two overs later Burnham (0) was lbw to Wighters, the swinging delivery hitting his back leg, 24-2.

Jonny Bushnell's length varied & Gale took advantage striking 4x4. Already the fielding in the ring had been exemplary, with Sol making two good stops at point to prevent boundaries. Calum Fletcher began a spell in over 8 from the Park end with a maiden. In his second he pinned Allan (0) lbw on the crease, 29-3, a wicket maiden.

This became 32-4 in the 14^th when Gale (24) was lbw to Calum playing around one straight & full. In the next, bowled by Will Alexander from the Grove end, Pattison (0) edged behind for w/k Sam Ewart to take a neat catch, 33-5. In Will's next Cowell (8) was bowled by a leg stump yorker, 42-6.

Junaid Khan & Jake Pattison resisted as Bushnell returned but he again found consistency elusive with Khan pulling for 6. However in Will's 5^th  another well directed yorker uprooted Khan's (18) middle & leg stumps, 70-7 after 23 overs.

Drinks were taken at 86-7 after 25 overs, as J Pattison & D Marshall dug in. Oli McGee (sla- Grove) entered the attack in over 27 & George Drissell (ob- Park) in over 28. In his first George persuaded Jake Pattison (20) to sky toward mid off where Will took a straightforward catch, 99-8.

Dale Marshall (24) had batted positively, hitting George straight for 6  but three balls later in over 32, playing forward, he was bowled, 114-9. In the next Regan Pattison (0) succumbed to great piece of fielding by Oli who, from backward square leg, threw down the bowler's stumps with a direct hit as the batter retreated. Chris Marshall (0*), Seaham Harbour all out for 116 after 33.4 overs.

The bowling had been accurate, Jonny Wightman 7-1-11-2, Calum 7-4-11-2, Will 6-0-22-3, Oli 4-0-12-0, George 3.4-0-14-2: the fielding sharp , runs were saved & pressure kept on the batters.

In reply Chris Hewison & Sol Bell faced the left arm seam of Junaid Khan (Grove) & right arm medium of Dale Marshall (Park). Khan bowled briskly but Hewey pulled twice for 4. Sol (10) struck Marshall for 4,2,4 in the 4^th but in the next aiming to hook Khan unluckily, played on, 23-1.

Hewey stroked 10 off Dale Marshall in the 6th & with George built a match winning partnership of 94. Chris Marshall's off spin, Micky Allan's medium pace Regan Pattison's off spin & Jake Pattison's sla all probed but there were few alarms as Hewey drove &  pulled with certainty & George targeted the leg side with 2x6, finishing the game with 2,2,4 from Regan Pattison to point, cover & straight, in the 20^th over.

Hewey (71*, 66b, 12x4, 1x6), George 31* (33b, 2x4, 2x6), a comprehensive win. The Bulls one of 4 undefeated teams after two games with Burnmoor, Burnopfield & Castle Eden.

Onward to round three on Sat 2nd May 2026, SNCC v Chester-le-Street (a) from 1200, 100o win/lose. We hope you can be there.

Duncan.