BULLS CONTINUE WINNING STREAK AGAINST ASHINGTON. CHRIS HEWISON JOINS THE 10000 NEPL RUN CLUB. Sat 6 June 2026:

6th Jun 2026

Ashington 142ao (47.3o) Jack Jessop 13, Yash Kothari 56, Jordan Evans 16, Alex Nice 21: Jonny Wightman 2-30, Jonny Bushnell 2-37, Calum Fletcher 1-25, George Drissell 5-28, Oli McGee 0-16.

SNCC 143-5 (30.2o) Chris Hewison 57, Jonny Bushnell 52*, Rob Peyton 9: Charlie Harmison 3-62, Matthew Collins 0-25, Yash Kothari 0-15, Alex Nice 0-16, Ian Sharkey 2-18.

SNCC won by 5 wickets- 24 points, Ashington 3.

An overcast & cool day at Roseworth Terrace welcomed Ashington, missing Ben Harmison & Sean McCafferty.  The visitors lost the toss & were asked to bat. Jack Jessop & Jack McCarthy faced the seam of Jonny Wightman & Jonny Bushnell. At 18 in the 5^th McCarthy (0) not quite fully forward, edged Wightman to w/k Rob Peyton.

Two overs later Jessop (13) was bowled by the away swing of Wightman, the off stump cartwheeling, 19-2. Kothari & Evans were watchful, Calum Fletcher began with two maidens. Rain intervened at 1132 for 15 minutes, 23-2 after 10 overs.

Bushnell returned from the Grove end with the rate at threes. Then at 58 in the 18^th Evans (16) forward, struck mid pad, was lbw to Fletcher. Gardiner (lh) joined Kothari who was content to defend or drive straight when the opportunity arose.

At 75 in the 23^rd Gardiner (2) gloved a hook off Bushnell, the ball lobbing to w/k Peyton close on the leg side, 4 down. The rain came again at 1255 & lunch was taken .Play resumed at 1342. Calum bowled another maiden. Then in the 27th Charlie Harmison (3) was bowled by Bushnell, the delivery removing the off bail, 80-5.

Rain again between 1409 & 1429 , the match reduced to 52/47 overs, 88-5 after 30 overs. George Drissell (ob) began a long spell in the 30th. Kothari dabbed for 2 to get to 50* in the 34th & then, in the 36th, having stroked everything straight, surprisingly chose to sweep & was adjudged lbw, Kothari (56, 93b 4x4), a bedrock innings.

Rain again intervened between 1455 &1521 the overs reduced to 48/42, the ball was found & play resumed. Oli McGee began a spell from the Grove but it was George in his next who gained an lbw verdict against Lennon Harmison (5) sweeping, 119-7.

In the 44^th James Harmison (8) skied George high into mid wicket where Sol waited & took a neat catch, 133-8. Two overs later Alex Nice (22, 62b 2x4) drove hard, straight & bowler George took a stunning catch very low to his right on follow through. In the 48^th Collins (2) advanced but missed & was stumped  by Rob Peyton, 142 all out. George 5-28 & effective spells from the other bowlers keeping the pressure on.

The fielding had again been sharp, Adam at short extra & midwicket, almost a run out from short leg, David preventing an overthrow, Jonny B at mid on, Oli on the point boundary, Sol at point,  Wighters running 40 yards to mid wicket to save 2, Cal at square leg,  then diving at long leg saving 2, fielding matters.

In reply Chris Hewison & Sol Bell faced the seam of Charlie Harmison (Grove) & Matthew Collins (Park). Two early wickets as Sol (4) pulled Harmison straight to mid wicket at 9 then 4 balls later George (4), edging a good one to w/k McCarthy, 13-2.

Hewi drove straight & pulled C Harmison for 4. 44-1 after 9 overs then from the first ball of the 10^th Hewi drove Collins straight & the three runs took him to 22* & his 10000 NEPL league run,  joining Alan Worthy (287 innings), Andrew Smith (297),  Simon Birtwisle (301), Chris Hewison (308), John Graham (316), Dan Shurben & Quentin Hughes (334).

Chris 308-43-10035-165*- 37.87- 20- 52 a magnificent achievement. 

Kothari (sla) & Nice joined the attack & the total rose steadily. 85-2 after 20 overs, Sharkey (Grove) had just begun a spell. Hewi got to 50* in the 22^nd over with a straight 4 followed by 6 to long on, both off C Harmison. Then in the next trying to force Sharkey off the back foot, edged to slip where J Harmison took the catch. Hewi (57, 61b, 8x4,1x6) back in the runs.

Harmison switched ends & from around the wicket forced Adam Cragg (4) to aim to leave but the ball followed him & he edged to w/k McCarthy, 117-4.  Bushy reached a deserved 50* in the 28^th pushing a single to mid wicket. His timing, especially off the back foot through the off side, is remarkable.

Rob Peyton (9) squirted to backward point at 133 in the 29th, David Edwards cut hard & 4 leg byes brought the scores level for Bushy to push another single to mid wicket from the second ball of the 31^st over to win the game.

Bushy 52, (82b, 6x4) David 5* , another memorable milestone day. The Bulls increase their lead at the top of the Premier league to 26 points. Tough games to come, Castle Eden (a), Burnmoor (a) & Benwell Hill (h) conclude the first half of the 2026 NEPL  season.

Sun 21^st June SNCC v Woodlands (Bradford) National Club Championship Regional Final (h) from 1300, 40/40, exciting times.

Onward to Sat 12^th June SNCC v Castle Eden (a) 110 overs win/lose/draw from 1100. We hope you can be there.

Duncan.