BEN JONES-LEE (49- b 29/10/1976- d 30/04/2026)
4th May 2026
BULLS COMPLETE NEPL 1ST X1 T20 GROUP C UNDEFEATED: SAM LEE THREE WICKETS ON DEBUT
29th May 2026
SNCC 172-6 (20o) David Edwards 22, Sam Ewart 15, George Drissell 23, Jonny Bushnell 21, Rob Peyton 27, Sol Bell 28*, Oli McGee 25*: Siraj Uddin 0-25, Oscar Reynolds 2-25, Sam Davidson 2-44, Adam McGuire 1-26, Sean Hauxwell 1-50.
Philadelphia 120-6 (20o) Riley Blunt 27, Sean Hauxwell 27, Adam McGuire 34*: Nicky Phillips 1-25, Nathan Gough 1-27, George Drissell 0-9, Oli McGee 0-14, Sam Lee 3-21, Will Phillips 0-24.
SNCC won by 52 runs- 6 points, Philadelphia 0.
The Bulls, who had already qualified for the 1/4 finals, rested key players ahead of the double header against Burnopfield (a) & Richmondshire (h). Sam Lee (rm) made his 1st X1 debut & in a very promising spell took three wickets in his 4 overs bowling at a good pace, a steady line & length, & to his field, conceding only 2x4.
Skipper Rob Peyton chose to bat on a lovely sunlit evening, the ground looking a picture.
The seriously brisk Siraj Uddin opened the Philadelphia attack & his full-length deliveries David Edwards & Sam Ewart found hard to lay a bat on. Reynolds (rm) suffered early wides but at 39 in the 7th Edwards (22, 5x4) aiming to force into the offside, played on to Davidson's medium pace.
Two over later Ewart (15, 3x4) driving the same bowler, edged to w/k Marriott 49-2. In the same over George Drissell drove consecutive 6's over long on. But at 69 in the 10th George (23) forward, was bowled by the slow left arm of McGuire.
Bushnell & Peyton ran well in a partnership of 45 but at 113 in the 14th, Bushy (21,) was bowled by Reynolds. Sol Bell & Rob continued to run well until at 127 Peyton (27) lofted Reynolds to long off.
Gough (0) succumbed to first ball lbw from S Hauxwell but then Oli McGee struck 25*(2x4, 2x6) from 10 balls as the returning Uddin was unable to replicate his earlier accuracy conceding 12 in his last over, the 20th. Sol stroked 28* from 21(4x4), 80 runs had come from the last 8 overs.
In reply Blunt & Stephenson faced the off spin of Nicky Phillips & left arm seam of Nathan Gough. From ball 6 Stephenson (0) expected the ball to carry for 6 to square leg but George Drissell took the catch on the boundary edge.
Blunt (27,18b, 4x4,1x6) had been positive but playing forward, he was bowled by George's first delivery in over 5, 32-2. Oli suffered in the next as Hauxwell swept but in the 10th Sam Lee's second delivery was pulled high to deep square leg by Marriott (5) where Jonny Bushnell took the catch. A joyful huddle ensued, 52-3.
Will Phillips & Sam bowled overs 10-14, & in his 3rd Sam took two wickets as first, the left handed Hauxwell (27) drove to George at deepish mid off & three balls later the right handed Reynolds (12) drove to mid on where George again obliged.
Nicky returned conceding 18 in two overs & Sam finished with 4-0-21-3, a very creditable return on debut. Nathan returned at the Grove end & in his last, the 20th, Dowens (11) drove powerfully to short extra cover where Rob Peyton took a very smart catch with aplomb, 119-6.
The Philadelphia innings ended at 120-6, Adam McGuire 34* . With four wins in Group C the Bulls await the draw for the 1/4 finals scheduled for Friday 26th June.
In a perfect, sunny setting , it was an evening to remember for Sam.
Duncan.