SIXTH WICKET PARTNERSHIP GIVES TYNEMOUTH BATTLING DRAW, BULLS STILL TOP BY 3

5th Jun 2018

SNCC 228-9 dec (55o) Birtwisle 60, Graham 42, Cragg 30, Tindale 23, Peyton 22: Watt 2-51, Pollard 2-34.

TYNEMOUTH 189-8 (55o) Watt 73, Longstaff 57*: Wightman 2-51, Craigs 3-14, Crozier 1-37, Birtwisle 2-28 

Chasing 228, & from a precarious 51-5, Tynemouth's Mark Watt & Sean Longstaff's 6th wicket partnership of 121 thwarted the Bulls victory push at a bright but blustery Preston Avenue on Saturday 26th May. A winning draw & 14 points left the Bulls still top of the Premier Division by 3 from CLS.

Invited to bat, SN openers Simon Birtwisle & Sam Dale faced Hymers ( 0-16 off 8) & Bedja. The partnership was 46 when Dale was adjudged lbw to first change, Lonnberg from the Golf course end for 16(3x4). John Graham joined Birty & the experienced pair batted sensibly as 5 seamers wheeled away before the entry of slow left arm, Scottish international Watt at 79 -1 in the 22nd over up the hill.

Graham did not let Watt settle taking 18 from three overs including two straight 6's. At 123 in the 30th over Graham, attacking, feathered a catch behind of a wide Longstaff delivery for a well constructed  42 (4x4, 2x6, 52 balls). Peyton joined Birtwisle & after a patient innings, Birty was stumped by Brown, charging Watt for 60 (8x4, 94 balls) at 133-3  in the 33rd.

Cragg joined Peyton & both with attacking intent took the score to 164 before Peyton skied Watt to Smith in the covers for 22. Tindale entered & welcomed the first over of Pollard's spell with three cracking boundaries from successive deliveries. One reverse sweep too many saw the end of Cragg, lbw to Pollard for 30,(3x4, 48balls) at 191 in the 48th.

Alex Weetman, on debut, lofted to long on for 2, Tindale(23) was run out by Jones after a single was turned down late by Craigs. Craigs & Stanyon then batted inventively for 10 each & in the scrambled last over, two run outs saw the declaration at 228-9 after 55 overs.

Debnam & Smith began the reply & both had succumbed lbw to Wightman by the 13th over at 38-2. After two imperious boundaries, the prized wicket of in form Michael Jones went to Michael Craigs, played on, in his first over. Swinging it from the Preston Road end, Craigs repeated the feat in the next two overs removing Brown caught at cover by Weetman for 3 &  Stewart lbw for 0. 51-5 after 20.

Watt & Longstaff, carefully rebuilt against the spin of Crozier & seam of Craigs. The partnership began to prosper as Birtwisle, Tindale & Stanyon took the strain & had reached 121 in the 47th when Watt after a defiant 73 (11x4, 107 minutes, 91 balls) was bowled by Birtwisle, reversing once too often. Bedja was then bowled by Birty &, after one 6, Hymers caught by Tindale off Crozier skying behind the bowler. 179-8 in the 49th.

The return of Wightman & Craigs failed to achieve a further breakthrough as Longstaff & Lonnberg batted out the remaining 7 overs for 10 runs. Sean Longstaff finishing with a match saving 57 * (6x4, 13 minutes, 109 balls). An attritional sort of day.

The Bulls remain top of the Premier Division by three points & welcome second placed CLS next Saturday to Roseworth Terrace. Should be a cracker !

Duncan D. Stephen.