BULLS DOMINATE IN ROSEWORTH QUARTER FINAL AT LANCHESTER. BEN HOBBS & WILL PHILLIPS 142 SECOND WICKET PARTNERSHIP.

16th Jul 2026

Thurs 16 July 2026: Roseworth Trophy quarter final: SNCC v Lanchester (a) 20/20

SNCC 219-2 (20o) George Gray 13, Ben Hobbs 81*, Will Phillips 67, Joseph Dresser 20*: Harry O'Sullivan-Brown 0-14, Ben Rayner 2-52, Nathan Watson 0-22, Jack Harrison 0-25, Mark Jacobs 0-23, Ibrahim Khan 0-22, Jack Brooks 0-31, Sam Small 0-28.

Lanchester 119-9 (20o) Mark Jacobs 38, Sam Small 11, Stuart McPhail 20, John McGillivray 17: Hamish Barrie 3-20, George Gray 0-16, Ru Fletcher 0-13, Will Phillips 0-15, Olly Alexander 4-28, Aadi Bethanabatla 2-14.

SNCC won by 100 runs- advance to semi final v Littletown or Shotley Bridge (a) before 31st July.

Having been asked to bat, the Bulls put on an exhilarating batting display which saw Ben Hobbs & Will Phillips amass a second wicket partnership of 142 in only 14.3 overs, the highest in 2026 to date for that wicket by any SN team, supported by explosive cameos from George Gray & Joseph Dresser, abetted by 36 wides which harmed the Lanchester cause.

Then in reply, at 77-1 from 12 overs, & after a torrid first, Olly Alexander (rm) took 4 wickets in three overs for just 9 runs. Hamish returned to take two wickets in three balls in the 19^th & Aadi, an eventful two in two in the 20th, leaving the home team 100 runs adrift on119-9 at the close.

An explosive start saw George Gray strike 13 from 7 balls before he was lbw to a full delivery from the brisk Rayner, 29-1 after two overs. Over 3 from Watson conceded 22, 6 wides & 3x4 , over 4 from Rayner 17 as both Ben & Will drove straight, cut hard & ran well.

The introduction of Jacobs (ob) & Khan (lb) slowed things a little, the slower bowlers harder to get away, 105-1 after 10 overs, Ben 41*, Will 29*. 20 singles off the bat,19 wides. 114 after 14 overs but then Brooks & Harrison conceded 56 in 4 overs. Will accelerated, 4.4.2.4 reaching 52* with a boundary off Brooks. In Harrison's next Ben got to 50* with a single then one over later struck a 6 off Brooks.

The return of Rayner in the 17th saw Will (67, 45b, 8x4) depart when he top edged a pull to extra cover caught by Small, 172-2. Joseph entered striking 1.4.6 to leg off Small in the 18th. Ben 4.2 & then 2,1,2, 2 in the last:  a commanding final total of 219-2, Ben 81* (60b, 9x4, 1x6), Joseph 20* (8b 2x4,1x6). Both Will & Ben were the beneficiaries of a couple of chances not taken but this should not distract from their excellent partnership.

In reply Jacobs & Small faced the spin of Hamish & George. Singles only until in over 5 a boundary & a wicket as Small (11) was bowled by a full Hamish delivery, 24-1. Ru's two overs cost 13 as Jacobs launched a 6 to the shorter side but only 54 -1 after 10 overs, Will Phillips 2 overs for 7.

Olly's first, the 11^th  went for 19 but he bounced back admirably taking 4 wickets in his next three overs as Jacobs (38) was caught by Paddy at short third man top edging, 82-2. Then two in his second as McPhail (20) was well caught by Ben moving in quickly at deep cover to take a smart low catch, three balls later Selby (0) was bowled off a pad by a slower one. Olly mixing up his pace cleverly.

In his fourth Watson (2) was also bowled missing a full delivery, 100-5 after 17 overs. Hamish then bowled McGillivray (17) aiming to go large as with the previous ball which went for 4 & two balls later Joseph rather nonchalantly took a one handed catch at extra cover to dismiss Brooks (0).

Aadi then offered two eventful overs the first of which included two no balls, a wide & 5 singles. In the second two wickets as first Rayner (3) was well caught by Ben at deep mid wicket moving smartly to his left & next ball Harrison (0) mistimed to Joseph at extra cover, the hat trick ball was a dot !!

An all round good performance which sees the Bulls advance to the Roseworth Trophy semi final to face either Littletown or Shotley Bridge (a) before the end of July.

Onward to the important NEPL Division 2 match against leaders Chester-le-Street on Sat 18th July from 1100, 110 overs win/lose/draw & on Mon 21 July the Div 2 T20 v Benwell Hill (h) from 1800.

We hope you can be there.

Duncan.