BULLS WINNING START: OUTSTANDING BUSHNELL CENTURY ON DEBUT

18th Apr 2026

   Sat 18 April 2026: NEPL Premier Division: SNCC v Shotley Bridge (h) 100o win/lose.

SNCC 252-8 (50o) Chris Hewison 28, Jonny Bushnell 119, Adam Cragg 26, Oli McGee 31*: Kieran Milburn 2-31, Joe Gibson 2-43, Jack Camarda 1-62, Jack Levy 3-38, Ross Burdon 0-62, Jack Temple 0-14.

Shotley Bridge 165ao (42.1o) Ross Burdon 17, Haydon Mustard 43, Jack Temple 24, Jack Levy 37: Jonny Wightman 1-28, Jonny Bushnell 0-14, Calum Fletcher 3-22, Will Alexander 0-49, Oli McGee 1-30, George Drissell 4-18.

SNCC won by 87 runs - 24 points, Shotley Bridge 5.

A sunny day with scudding cloud but with showers forecast saw the Bulls give a debut to Jonny Bushnell & welcome back Calum Fletcher. The visitors won the toss & invlted the Bulls to bat. Chris Hewison & Sol Bell faced the off breaks of Kieran Milburn (Park) & seam of Joe Gibson (Grove). A tight opening spell, w/k standing up, Hewey drove over the top twice but at 32 in the 7^th Milburn, around the wicket, persuaded Hewey (28, 30b, 4x4) to edge &, via the w/k's pad, Hall took a good low catch at first slip. 

Three overs later Sol (7), looking to be positive, was bowled by a Gibson inswinger, 39-2. Camarda (rm) entered the attack & then Levy's leg breaks in the 14^th over. At 66 in the 15th George Drissell (3) aiming to drive Camarda over mid off, saw Milburn retreat & take a good catch over his shoulder. The visitors ground fielding was good & the bowling tight.

Adam Cragg joined Bushy & the left & right combination steadily built an important  partnership of 76, running well & despatching the occasional bad balls as Burdon (ob) took over from Camarda. 104-3 at drinks after 25 overs.

Bushy's 50 (56b, 4x4,1x6) came up in the 29th, composed, timing well, driving straight & cutting powerfully. At 142 in the 32^nd Adam (26,49b,1x6) reversed flat & hard off Milburn but was well caught by Camarda at backward point. A rain break lost 14 minutes but no over reduction. The ball skidded on a little. In the 34^th Rob (7), caught on the crease, was lbw to Levy. Two overs later Will (7) was bowled by Levy as he played back. Over 39 saw David Edwards (7) bowled by Levy as he looked to work into the legside, 167-7.

Thankfully there followed a splendid partnership of 80 in 11 overs between Bushnell & McGee. Running well & putting the spinners under pressure, the 200 came up in the 46th over. Bushy accelerated to a deserved 100 from 97 balls (9x4, 2x6) in the 47^th & Oli plundered 2x6 to mid wicket in an enterprising innings.

In the last over Bushy (119, 111b, 11x4, 2x6) skied to cover off Gibson, ending an outstanding innings. Oli (31*, 31b, 1x4, 2x6) complemented perfectly: the 50 over total was 252-8.

In reply Burdon & Mustard faced the seam of Wightman (Grove) & Bushnell (Park). The bowling was tight, batters playing & missing regularly. 25-0 after 9 overs then the introduction of Calum Fletcher (rm Park). In his second Burdon (17,36b, 3x4) drove but edged to w/k Rob, 38-1. Will Alexander entered the attack but had run up difficulty. In over 14 Greenwell (1), responding to an optimistic Mustard call for a single, was well beaten by a superb direct hit by Sol from point to the w/k 's stumps.

Will suffered in over 16 as no balls & variations of length were punished but in the next Calum brought one back to bowl Milburn (1). Two overs later Mustard (43, 56b, 3x4,2x6) was lbw to Calum. Oli began with a maiden,70-4, four wickets had fallen for 32 runs in 6 overs, Cal 3-18.

Oli & Cal was an effective bowling combination, until at 88 in the 25^th Camarda (6), playing back, was lbw to Oli, 5 down at drinks. George had just started a spell from the Park end.

Post drinks he & Oli bowled 10 overs in tandem. Both Levy & Temple showed intent against spin but in the 33rd, Temple (24, 53b,3x4), attempting to slog sweep George, skied to Hewey at mid wicket, 114-6.

Wightman & Bushnell returned & tested Levy with the short ball. The score had risen to 140 in the 39^th as George returned but Levy's (37, 50b, 6x4) cover drive was very well held by David Edwards diving forward. Will returned but was again bedevilled by no balls & variations that yielded runs to Andrews until George trapped Gibson (2) lbw in the 41st.

The innings closed at 165 when Andrews (13) succumbed lbw to George from the first ball of the 43^rd over. A win by 87 runs which highlighted the importance of both batting & bowling partnerships. George finished with 4-18. The fielding was sharp, catches were taken, Bushy's innings showed the importance of getting in & accelerating later.

Onward to Sat 25^th April 2026  SNCC v Seaham Harbour (h) 100o, win/lose from 1200. We hope you can be there.