BULLS DEFEAT CHESTER-LE-STREET BY 8 WICKETS: SOL BELL SUBLIME 84* Sat 18 July 2016: NEPL Premier Division: SNCC v Chester-le-Street (h) 110o w/l/d

18th Jul 2026

Chester-le-Street 171ao (50.4o) Jacob McCann 71, Ewan Hughes-Rowlands 18, Quentin Hughes 12, Matthew Robinson 30, Jack Harrison 13*: Jonny Wightman 3-40, Jonny Bushnell 1-23, Calum Fletcher 2-24, Oli McGee 1-40, Geroge Drissell 2-39.

SNCC 176-2 (31o) Chris Hewison 38, Sol Bell 84*, Jonny Bushnell 24, George Drissell 20*: Zac Mawdsley 1-57, Matthew Robinson 0-38, Quentin Hughes 1-37, Jack Harrison 0-19, Jacob Heslop 0-21.

SNCC won by 8 wickets- 25 points, CLS 2.

Overnight & early morning rain meant a late start at 1230 & a 52/46 over split with one break between innings. The Bulls won  the toss & invited the Cestrians to bat. Coxon & McCann faced the swing of Jonny Wightman & seam of Jonny Bushnell.

A quiet start, a little in the wicket, then in over 5 two wickets as Coxon (4) forward but struck mid pad, was lbw to Wightman & three balls later, uncharacteristically, Smith (0) played a big drive & edged to w/k Sam Ewart, deputising for Rob Peyton. 6-2.

15-2 after 10 overs as 5 maidens were bowled, Sam sharp behind the stumps to prevent byes on both sides. Calum Fletcher joined the attack in over 12 & in his third Sol, surprisingly, could not cling on to a catch to his right in the gully from the left handed McCann.

A near run out at the bowler's end as Oli's throw missed by a whisker but in the 17^th Jonny Bushnell, now from the Grove end, found  the edge as Hughes-Rowlands (18) drove, w/k Sam taking the catch, 34-3.

Thompson & McCann took the score to 55 in the 24^th when Thompson (10) edged to first slip where George took a very good catch, low to his right, 4 down. Drinks were taken after 26 overs at 67-4 McCann 34* (4x4 1x6)

In the second over after drinks H Simpson (0) was lbw to George. Quentin Highes cut past point for 4. Oli (sla) & George (ob) bowled overs 27-40. At 94 in the 33^rd Q (12) swept Oli to deep mid wicket where David Edwards moved in to take a neat catch.

One over later McCann reached 50* & in the next Robinson drove Oli for 6 to long on. A life for McCann (56*) in the 38^th as Wighters just failed to cling on to a diving chance at  backward square leg in the ring.

129 after 40 overs, Wightman returned from the Grove accompanied by George from the Park. In over 44 McCann (71,120b, 8x4 1x6) advanced to George, missed & was stumped by w/k Sam, 146-7. An important innings of application on a not entirely straightforward surface.

In the next over Robinson (30,33b, 3x4, 1x6) pulled Wighters to George at mid wicket in the ring, 150-8. Two more wickets were lost in the next 6 overs as Mawdsley (8) was run out at the w/k 's end returning for two to deep cover only to be beaten by Jonny Bushnell's excellent throw, 163-9.

Calum returned in over 51 & bowled Heslop off stump with his 4^th delivery, 171 all out in 50'4 overs, Harrison 13*. Three wickets for Jonny Wightman leaves him needing 3 more to become the highest wicket taking seamer in NEPL history overtaking Matty Muchall's 582 by one.

The sun had made an appearance but at the start of the SN reply it was cool & overcast. Chris Hewison & Sol Bell faced  the seam of Mawdsley (rm) Park & Robinson (lm) Grove. A fast start as Sol stoked 2x4 to mid wicket & off the back foot through cover in over 1.

Robinson from around the wicket was driven by Hewey straight & through cover for 4, 18 from two overs. Quentin Hughes (ob) entered  in over 6 but was unable to exercise his usual control as Sol drove to long on & cut past point, both for 4. 67 without loss after 10 overs.

Then in Q's 4^th over Chris (38, 29b 8x4) drove straight to mid wicket, 75-1 after 12overs. The sun shone, Heslop (sla) entered the attack from the Grove & Hughes changed ends. Bushy pushed singles, Sol glanced for 4 then cut  Q to backward point & steered to third man for 2.

107-1 after 20 overs, a first Hughes maiden in the 21st, Sol reached 50* with a pushed single off Heslop in the 22nd & drinks were taken at 116- 1 after 24 overs.

Sol then drove Q straight for 4 & off  the back foot through cover for another, timing to perfection. Mawdsley returned in the 25^th & was unlucky to brush the off stump without dislodging the bail but in his next Bushnell (24, 42 balls, 2x4) was bowled the off bail dislodged, 134-2.

George entered at 4 Robinson conceded 12 in the 28^th as Sol pulled to backward square leg twice & then in the next a 6 to the backward square leg nets off Mawdsley, a sublime, seemimgly effortless, piece of timing. The end was nigh, George took 4,2,1 off Robinson & then 2.2, 6 off Mawdsley to end  the game, the 6 striking the corner of the lower frame sill of the conservatory window in the Pavilion.

Sol 84* (99b, 11x4, 1x6) some exquisite timing & shot execution, George  20* (19b 1x4 1x6), the big finish getting one extra point, 25 points for the so far undefeated Bulls, extending their lead to 68 points in the Premier Division, with 8 games to go. All difficult with holidays approaching, we must continue !

Onward to:

Sun 19^th July, T20 finals day....a report on two wins for the Bulls coming next ! 

Fri 24 July SNCC v Newcastle (h) in the Banks Salver 100 from 1800

Sat 25 July SNCC v Hetton Lyons (a) 110 o win/lose /draw from 1100

Do come along, it is bound to be exciting !

Duncan.