BULLS INCREASE LEAD AT THE TOP OF PREMIER DIVISION WITH WIN OVER THE HILL- JONNY WIGHTMAN 5 WICKETS Sat 27 June 2026

27th Jun 2026

Sat 27 June 2026: NEPL Prem Div: SNCC v Benwell Hill (h) 110o win/lose/draw.

SNCC 250-6 dec (53o) Chris Hewison 30, Sol Bell 78, George Drissell 56, Jonny Bushnell 36*, Oli McGee 33*: Mark Watson 0-36, Ben Cant 1-31, Sam Martin-Jenkins 0-60, Max Williamson 3-61, Lee Crozier 2-60.

Benwell Hill 129ao (37.4o) Morgan Barnes 40, Sam Dinnng 29, Ben Cant 28: Jonny Wightman 5-30, Jonny Bushnell 2-17, Calum Fletcher 0-34, George Drissell 0-19, Oli McGee 3-21.

SNCC won by 121 runs- 30 points, Benwell Hill 3.

A sunny day at Roseworth Terrace, the Bulls chose to bat. Chris Hewison & Sol Bell faced the seam of Mark Watson (Grove) & Ben Cant (Park) who bowled the first 10 overs. 46 without loss, 4x4 to Hewi (23*), 3x4 to Sol (22*). Then in the 12^th Hewi (30, 37b) aimed to drive straight but miscued  Cant to point where Max Williamson took a diving catch, 50-1.

George Drissell  joined Sol as  Sam Martin-Jenkins began his second over. The ball was singing but scoring opportunities on the less populated legside were taken. In over 20 Max Williamson (ob) began a spell. The total had moved to 105 after 21 overs, Martin-Jenkins expensive as both George & Sol struck boundaries, Sol reaching 50* (63b 8x4).

Lee Crozier began a long spell in over 27. George struck Williamson for 6 to mid wicket & reached 50 * with another off Crozier in the 33^rd followed by another but two balls later George (56, 69b 4x4 3x6) was caught by Nicholson, 170-2, ending an important partnership of 116.

Three wickets then fell in two overs as Sol (78, 103b, 9x4), another very good innings, overstretched playing forward to be stumped by Barnes off Williamson. Two balls later a paddle sweep by Adam Cragg (0) floated to short fine leg where Crozier took the catch.

In the next over Rob Peyton (0) forward, was lbw to Crozier, 173-5.

At 190 in the 42^nd over Sam Ewart (7) came down the wicket to Williamson but mistimed to mid off where a retreating Christie took the catch, 6 down, work to do. There followed an important partnership of 60* in 11 overs between Jonny Bushnell & Oli McGee as the spinners continued. A smart piece of boundary fielding at long on saved 6 but the catch was unable to be reclaimed as the fielder stepped over the rope. Martin-Jenkins conceded 17 off two overs & the declaration came after 53 overs at 250-6, Bushnell 36*( 41b, 2x4) McGee 33* (46b, 2x4 1x6).

In reply Christie & Mussett faced the swing of Jonny Wightman (Grove) & seam of Jonny Bushnell (Park). A wicket from ball 3 as the away swing enticed a drive from Christie (0) & the edge was taken by Hewi at second slip. Martin-Jenkins struck his first delivery for 4.

In Wightman's next a stunning head high, right handed catch as Martin-Jenkins (5) very firm drive was held on follow through. Barnes entered & struck 6 then 2 in the same over !

In Wighters third over Mussett (6) aimed to drive but inside edged onto the stumps, 23-3. Calum began a 4 over spell in the 8^th but could not find his customary nagging length being either too short or too full & Barnes & Dinning too advantage striking 6x4.

However at 74 in the 13^th Bushnell's 5^th Barnes (40, 36b 5x4 2x6) drove but edged to w/k Peyton. George Drissell began a 10 over spell of off spin in the 16^th conceding only 19 runs with 4 maidens. Oli began in over 17 & in his second Dinning (29, 46b 4x4) went back to cut but edged to w/k Rob, 89-5. Control at one end helps the bowler at the other.

Cant was positive striking 2x4 off George but a spell of 3 consecutive maidens saw Siddique (6) aim to slog sweep Oli but sky to mid off where Bushy took the catch, 107-6. At the same score, in  Oli's next, Williamson (0) edged to Hewi at second slip, 7 down.

Nicholson & Watson defended, more maidens were bowled & at tea the total was 123-7.

On resumption Wightman persuaded Nicholson (6) to drive but he inside edged onto the stumps, 8 down. In his next the left handed Watson (1) was defeated by the inswing & bowled, a 5 fer for Jonny in pursuit of Matthew Muchall's 582 wickets as the leading all time, NEPL seamer wicket taker. Wighters now needs 6 to get to 583!

One over later Cant (28, 69b 4x4) succumbed to Bushy, lbw on the crease, 129 all out after 37.3 overs. 30 points extending the Bull lead by 5 to 56 points at the halfway point of the season. 

Undefeated in the league to date, we must aim to continue on Sat 4^th July SNCC v Shotley Bridge (a) 110 overs win/lose/draw. We hope you can be there to cheer the Bulls on.

Duncan.