BEN JONES-LEE (49- b 29/10/1976- d 30/04/2026)
4th May 2026
MIDWEEK BULLS DEFEATED IN HIGH SCORING CONTEST AT PONTELAND. Thurs 28 May 2026: NTCL Midweek Open League: SNCC v Ponteland (a) 20/20.
28th May 2026
SNCC 165-3 (20o) Tom Seymour 94, Waheed Safi 25, Stephen Harper 31*: Oliver Parker 0-27, John Lumb 1-34, Max Cullen 1-30, Jamie McDonald 0-26, Patrick Cooper 1-26, Ruben Giffin 0-25.
Ponteland 168-2 (17.5o) Harry Ash 89, Yuvraj Chauhan 33*, Patrick Cooper 28*: Simon West 0-23, Daylan Deen Williams 1-35, Waheed Safi 0-25, David Cragg 1-28, Tom Seymour 0-32, Ben West 0-13, Matt Williams 0-9.
Ponteland won by 8 wickets- 8 points, SNCC 2.
The 2025 Bulls midweek champions team are finding life tough in 2026 as opposing teams issue a strong challenge. This was the case again at Ponteland as the hosts overcame the Bulls very competitive 165-3 winning in the 18th over by 8 wickets.
Winning the toss on a pleasant evening the Bulls chose to bat & lost Wiill Oliver (0) in the 2nd over, chipping Lumb to mid off, 4-1. Mindful of the lack of experience in the batting line up, Tom Seymour & Waheed Safi scored steadily reaching 60-2 in the 10th, just after Waheed (25, 27b 2x4) had driven Cullen to cover.
Stephen Harper joined captain Tom & the pair accelerated, scoring 105 in the last 10 overs with Stephen rotating skillfully & Tom hitting straight powerfully or pulling to mid wicket. One 6, driven over extra cover, was especially eye catching.
Tom (94, 68b 11x4 3x6) was on course for a second consecutive century when to his frustration, after driving hard & straight, he saw bowler Cooper pull off a stunning catch over his head thus not only dismissing the astounded Tom but preventing the umpire suffering serious damage !
The innings closed at a respectable 165-3 after 20 overs. Stephen Harper 31* (20b 3x4) Richard Oliver 4*.
In reply Ponteland's Harry Ash & Dan Wright faced the seam of Simon West & Daylan Deen- Williams. Sadly the bowlers found it hard to maintain a consistent line & length & the total rose rapidly.
At 47 Wright (7) was caught by Simon West at backward point of Daylan, who seemed to be trying to bowl too quickly against experienced batters & conceded 35 from his 3 overs. Waheed's spell of spin conceded 25 but David Cragg showed his experience by bowling 5 overs for only 28. Tom conceded 32 in 3 overs but Ash was dropped several times which was dispiriting.
At 123 Ash (89, 53b, 8x4, 5x6), who driven straight or pulled to mid wicket with abandon, was lbw to David Cragg, a deserved wicket. Yuvraj Chauhan 33* & Patrick Cooper 28*ushered the home side to victory after 17.5 overs, late overs from Ben West & Matt Williams to no avail.
A cautionary tale, but onward to Thursday 6th June SNCC Midweek Bulls v Bates Cottages (h) 20/20 from 1800. We hope you can be there.
Duncan.