BULLS REMAIN UNBEATEN WITH DEFEAT OF CASTLE EDEN: SOL BELL REACHES A MAGNIFICENT 1000 LEAGUE RUNS IN 2026.

29th Aug 2026

    Sat 29 Aug 2026: NEPL Premier Division,

                                       SNCC v Castle Eden (h) 50/50 win/lose.

Castle Eden 139ao (43.4o) Mandeep Singh 52, Bradyn Davis 25, John Spellman 9, Jon Brown 9*: Jonny Wightman 0-9, Jonny Bushnell 1-20, Nathan Gough 0-1, Calum Fletcher 2-16, Will Alexander 1-13, George Drissell 1-42, Oli McGee 3-27.

SNCC 145-7 (36.4o) Chris Hewison 11, Sol Bell 46, Adam Cragg 27, Rob Peyton 16, Oli McGee 19, Will Alexander 15*: Callum Appleby 3-27, Jacob Darby 1-23, Philip Wimpenny 0-15, Mandeep Singh 1-33, Jonathan Malkin 2-44.

SNCC won by 3 wickets-24 points, Castle Eden 4.

On a warm but cloudy day at Roseworth Terrace, on a wicket that nibbled a bit all day, batters had to be watchful so it was especially pleasing that in the Bulls reply to Castle Eden's 139 all out, Sol Bell should pass, by one, 1000 league runs for 2026, the first to do so this season & the first since 2016.

Sol joins Thorpe (1003-2001), Joseph (1023-2000), Bekker (1027-2006), Smith (1052-2010), David (1073-2016), Chris Hewison (1085-2003) & Tom Latham (1102-2010) in this exclusive club.

Batting for 101 minutes, facing 69 balls, stroking 4x4, running well, especially in a 50 partnership with Adam, his composure & shot selection, many off the back foot on both sides of the wicket, were exemplary. Let us hope the weather allows him to continue his quest in the last two games the season against Burnmoor & Benwell Hill.

The visitors chose to bat. B Simpson & Malkin faced the swing of Wightman & seam of Bushnell. A wicket in Bushy's second as Simpson (6) drove sharply off the back foot but straight to Adam at cover, 10-1.

Wighters felt a back twinge in his 5^th over & Nathan took over as Calum entered the attack from the Park end with a maiden. In his second over Calum had Malkin (6) lbw half forward, 26-2.

In over 17 Will began a spell from the Grove & his third ball saw Sol move swiftly right at point, pick up & with a direct hit to the striker's stumps, run out Spellman (9) the non striker, a superb piece of fielding, 47-3.

In Will's next Bailey (1) edged to w/k Rob 49-4. Mandeep Singh had entered at 4 & looked to be in prime form, showing a  variety of attacking shots including a ramp to long leg, a drive to mid on, a pull to mid wicket & delicate glances on both sides of the wicket.

George began a spell in over 22 & drinks were taken at 75-4 after 25 overs, Mandeep 36* Davis 1*. Will completed a 5 over spell for 13 & then George & Oli bowled the next 16 overs for 52 in which 4 wickets fell.

90-4 after over 31 but in over 32, an uncharacteristic 4 overthrows gave a total of 6 from ball one. But George, from around the wicket, tempted Mandeep (52, 64b 6x4, 1x6) & he drove hard toward short mid wicket where Hewey took a good catch tumbling to his left, 98-5.

This became 99-6 in the next as Oli gained an lbw verdict against Wimpenny (1) sweeping. Then 106 -7 as Appleby (6) pulled a maximum to mid wicket but two balls later skied another pull which George ran 10 yards from slip to catch on the legside.

Another for Oli in the 39^th over as L Simpson (4) was lbw, deep in the crease missing a defensive shot, 117-8. An appeal for a diving short leg catch by Adam off a Davis inside edge was turned down but in over 44 two wickets in two balls as Davis (25, 66b 4x4) who had battled well, set off to claim a single but, when well down the wicket, was sent back & failed to beat the throw from Wighters from mid on to w/k Rob.

Next ball Darby (0) was bowled by Calum, 139 all out in 43.4 overs. Not an entirely flat surface as the ball nibbled about so chasing would not be easy.

Hewey & Sol faced the right arm seam of Appleby (Grove ) & Darby (Park). A back foot punch off Darby by Sol saw the Bulls on their way but three wickets then went down in 7 balls as Hewey (11) drove at Darby & was bowled.

George two runs from ball 1 but the third was bowled by a good ball from Appleby that moved away taking off stump, 20-2. Bushy (0) then seemed mighty unlucky to be adjudged caught by w/k Spellman, standing up, off a thigh pad, 20-3. 

The visitors needed the points & their tails were up. Enter Adam Cragg fresh from holiday. He & Sol put together a vital partnership of 50 in 16 overs, steadying the innings as Wimpenny (rm), Singh (ob) & Malkin (ob) took up the attack.

Then at 70 in the 22^nd over Adam (27, 61b, 4x4) may have been unlucky to be adjudged caught by w/k Spellman of a bat pad noise, Malkin the bowler, 4 down.

Drinks were taken after 25 overs at 89-4, Sol 33*, Rob 12*.

Appleby returned as Malkin continued. In over 28 Sol stroked 2.1.2 to mid wicket off Malkin to take him to 46* & 1001 runs rapturously acclaimed by the watching spectators. 6 balls later he leaned into an offside drive off Appleby, which travelled to backward point & was caught low down by Davis from the last ball of the over, 106-6.

The very next ball from Malkin, Rob (16, 26b 2x4) drove high, not quite straight, where  Brown made good ground to his left from long on to take the catch, 105-7, aagh !

A partnership of 27 between Will & Oli settled the nerves, Oli striking 3x4 consecutively off Malkin in over 32 to mid wicket, sweeping fine & driving through extra cover but at 133, with only 7 needed, he miscued to short third man off Singh for 19 (22b, 3x4).

There was time for more drama as Nathan swung Singh to deep mid wicket for the catch to be taken only for the watching players to remind the umpires that in 50 over cricket only 5 fielders were allowed on the leg side & Castle Eden had 6 & therefore this was a no ball.

After some deliberation it was agreed that this was a no ball, the run counted, the scores were tied, Nathan became the non striker & a free hit was awarded. Next ball Will (15*, 19b,1x4,1x6) nervelessly swung to square leg for 6, winning the game by 3 wickets.

The Bulls remain undefeated in the league with two tough games to go:

Sat 5 Sept SNCC v Burnmoor (h) 1130, 50/50 win /lose

Sat 12 Sept SNCC v Benwell Hill (a) 1130, 50/50 win/lose.

We hope you can be there to cheer the team as they enter the final games hoping to maintain their undefeated record in a championship winning season, the 16^th in the NEPL since 2000.

Duncan.