THE BELL TOLLS BUT BURNOPFIELD BAT OUT FOR A DRAW. Sat 30 May 2026:NEPL Premier Div: SNCC v Burnopfield (a)110o win/lose/draw.

30th May 2026

SNCC 298-6 dec (54o) Chris Hewison 16, Sol Bell 150, George Drissell 46, Jonny Bushnell 16, Adam Cragg 43, Oli McGee 6, David Edwards 6*: Matthew Oswell 3-45, Josh Bousfield 1-50, George Stephens 1-46, Ethan Baker 0-11, Aidan Lumley 0-5, Harry Crawshaw 0-58, Ross Whitfield Jun 1-40.

Burnopfield 203-7 (56o) Harry Crawshaw 13, John Oswell 49, Ethan Baker 23, Laurie Robson 61*, Matthew Oswell 38: Jonny Bushnell 0-40, Calum Fletcher 0-29, Nathan Gough 1-34, George Drissell 3-30, Oli McGee 2-18, Nicky Phillips 0-31, Sol Bell 1-11.

SNCC winning draw - 17 points, Burnopfield 9.

On a flat wicket & a sunny day at Burnopfield, opening bat Sol Bell stroked his highest SN score of 150, only being dismissed in the 51st over, as the Bulls totalled an impressive 298 leaving the hosts with 56 overs. But, after reducing Burnopfield to 103-6 in the 27th over, Robson & M Oswell batted without risk compiling a partnership of 96 before Oswell (38) was lbw to Sol, bowling seam up, in the last over.

The Bulls won the toss & chose to bat. Hewison & Bell faced the right arm seam of M Oswell & Bousfield. At 34 in the 7^th Hewey (16, 28b 2x4) was bowled by Oswell as the ball tracked in. George Drissell & Sol pushed on as Stephens (lm) entered the attack. 

After 20 overs the total was 83 Sol had struck 9 boundaries then in the 20^th Gaffney (sla) suffered as both George 6,4,4 & Sol 4,1 drove & pulled. Lunch was taken at 1300 with the score on 147-1 after 30 overs, Sol 79* George 45*.

In over 31 George (46, 64b,5x4 1x6) mistimed a drive to be caught at mid-on off Stephens, 159-2. Crawshaw began a long spell of slow left arm as Bushnell & Bell pushed on. At 197 in the 40^th Bushy (16, 28b 2x4) was bowled by Bousfield as he aimed to drive. 

Adam Cragg immediately ran 2,2,2,1 in Crawshaw's next over. Sol reached his 100* from 117 balls with 13 x4 soon after, sweeping the spinner & driving straight. The scoring rate increased as Adam reversed & the partnership had reached 84 in only 11 overs when in the 51^st Sol's magnificent innings (150, 152b, 19x4) ended bowled by M Oswell. 194 minutes  of concentration, effective shot selection & execution & tremendous stamina on a hot day, albeit on a flat wicket.

In the 53^rd over Adam (43, 38b, 4x4) hit a full toss to deep point off Oswell. Oli (7) was well caught & bowled by Whitfield & David Edwards stroked 2 then 4 from the last two balls of the innings.

In reply Crawshaw & J Oswell faced the right arm seam of Bushnell & Fletcher. Three maidens in the first 12 overs, then at 44 in Nathan Gough's second over, the 13th, Crawshaw (13) aiming to pull, skied for w/k Rb Peyton to take the catch.

In over 20 George Drissell (ob) entered the attack & persuaded J Oswell (49, 57b, 8x4) to drive but only to long on where Bushy took the catch, 72-2. In his next Whitfield (1) drove back to the bowler for George to take the catch, 82-3.

Three overs later Baker (23) mistimed a drive back to bowler Oli, 90-5. In the next Weston (2) playing back, was bowled by George, 93-5 & in the next Gaffney (11) drove hard back to Oli who took a good catch, waist high. 103-6 in the 27^th over, 5 wickets for 31 runs in 8 overs.

But Robson & M Oswell were  patient & obdurate, defending well against all comers as the bowlers rotated in search of a breakthrough. 7 maidens were bowled in the remaining 29 overs until in the last Sol, bowling seam up, got one to wobble away defeating M Oswell's (38, 91b, 4x4,1x6) defence & gaining an lbw verdict, 199-7. Bousfield struck a boundary & the game ended with Burnopfield on 203-7. Robson (61*, 87b, 8x4, 2x6) a most commendable effort.

'If you cannot win you do not lose' is the accepted mantra so Burnopfield's mission was accomplished.

A separate report covers the splendid win in the National Club Championship v Richmondshire (h) on Sun 31^st May when 8 catches were taken, 4 exceptional.

Onward to Sat 6^th June SNCC v Ashington (h) 110o win/lose/draw from 1100. We hope you can be there.

Duncan.