WINNING WEEKEND FOR THE BULLS

10th Aug 2021

Four wins out of four on Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th August caused a real feel-good factor at Roseworth Terrace. Hot on the heels of a successful Royal London One Day Cup win for Durham over Lancs on Thursday at the same venue, all three teams won on Saturday & on Sunday the 1st X1 defeated Ormskirk away to secure a semi-final place in the Royal London Club Championship on Sun 29th August at home to either Sandiacre Town or Leamington.

NEPL Premier Division: SNCC 202-6 dec(51o) Simon Birtwisle 64, Adam Cragg 51, Rob Peyton 34*: Sadaf Hussain 1-39, Jack McBeth 2-49, Chris Mann 2-50.

Eppleton 124 all out (34.4o) Dean Musther 25, Jake Pratt 21: Jonny Wightman 4-29, Sean Tindale 0-15, Lee Crozier 3-42, Oli McGee 0-11, Simon Birtwisle 3-18.

29 points: second in the Premier division, avg points 17.44 (Leaders Burnmoor 18.18)

Winning the toss & batting, both swing & seam from Eppleton's opening attack of Hussain & McBeth posed problems. A battling 28-2 after 18 overs suggested crease occupation was essential, Sol's 3 (32b), Sean's 10 (21b) were important contributions  presaging a determined 3rd wicket stand between Birty & Adam which took the score to 82-2 at lunch after 30o.  

Increasing the tempo, 132-2 in the 38th, the outstanding 3rd wicket partnership had reached 110 when Adam, in prime form, 51 (69b, 77m 5x4,1x6) was bowled by Chris Mann & two runs later Birty was bowled by McBeth for an excellent 64 (117b, 150m, 9x4) 140-4. Chris Hewison passed 8000 premier league runs in his cameo 9 &, after John Graham (2) perished to an outstanding boundary catch, it was left to Rob Peyton (34*) & Oli McGee (14*) to show some enterprise in an undefeated partnership of 42, enabling a declaration at 202-6 after 51o.

When Jonny Wightman had reduced the home team to 9-3, two catches for Rob Peyton behind the stumps, one a diving effort in front of first slip, & 39-4, some resistance came from Musther & Pratt in a stand of 36. Musther was caught by Oli off Lee. At 99 Pratt was lbw to Crozier & Burlinson bowled by Birty.

Simon had a hand in the last four wickets taking three & catching one. The end came after 34.4 overs as Ebdale was bowled for 1......on to Sunday. 29 points. The need to battle in the face of good bowling yet again evident.

ECB ROYAL LONDON CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP 1/4 FINAL AT ORMSKIRK.(40 overs/side)

The bus left at 0745, A69, M6, the rain in Cumbria was equatorial. The early arrivals at 1100 saw a wicket being prepared which, after heavy overnight rain, showed signs of dampness at the ends. The umpires were optimistic & the game started on time at 1300. A strong wind blew from Altys Road up the hill throughout the day which kept the clouds moving & the rain away. 

SN won the toss & invited the home team to bat. Spectators had sampled some delicious food served in the Clubhouse & the match programme contained a reminiscence of the semi final the teams played at Gosforth in 2016.

ORMSKIRK 172-9 (40o)  Gary Knight 21, Ian Robinson 22, Harvey Rankin 27, Scott Lees 35: Jonny Wightman 1-43, Sean Tindale 1-27, Calum Fletcher 1-19, Lee Crozier 2-29, Oli McGee 1-36, Simon Birtwisle 1-12.

SNCC 173-4 (36o) Sol Bell 11, Michael Richardson 25, Chris Hewison 75, Adam Cragg 48*: Josh Thompson 1-15, Jamie Barnes 2-25, Harvey Rankin 1-33.

At 30-0 after 6.4 overs Adam Cragg produced a stunning piece of fielding from short extra to run out Alex Rankin at the non strikers end. George Politis drove to cover, a swift turn & throw, direct hit, Rankin 2 yards out of his ground ! Two balls later Wightman had Politis lbw, 30-2. 

Cal Fletcher, up the hill but with the wind, & Lee Crozier into the wind began mean spells against new batsmen. Rob Rankin swung Lee to deep square leg where Sean took a well judged catch, 43-3. Armstrong lobbed Lee to mid off where Oli took the catch 47-4. It was turning & the bounce was a occasionally variable, timing was not easy.

Just as batsman seemed to get going SN took a wicket. The next one Clive called, after Knight had hit the first two balls for 4, Clive suggested the off bail would be good. One ball later Cal obliged exactly, bowling Knight (21) ! Robinson had started to accelerate but mistimed & Oli took a catch off his on bowling diving to his left inches from the floor, 98-6.

After Calum's tidy 6 over spell for only 19, Birty began down the hill & after 3 overs a frustrated Marsh reversed straight to Hewi at backward point, 115-7 after 31 overs. A splendid partnership of 56 ensued between Scott Lees & Harvey Rankin, both striking & running well. The score had reached 171 in the last over when Lees was run out going for a bye to the w/k, Richo lobbing to Sean who threw down the stumps at the non striker's end: next ball Sean yorked Rankin. The innings ended at 172-9. Perhaps rather more than we would have hoped.

In the second over Birty top egded a pull to third man to be caught, 4-1. Richo settled then struck a boundary & two sixes in the 6th & 7th overs, but was adjudged lbw from Barnes's first ball in the 8th, MJR 25- 34-2. Jamie Barnes (rm) pitched it up in a good spell down the hill, bowling  Sol at 53 in the 17th. 

Watchfully & gradually Chris Hewison & Adam Cragg built & from the last ball of the 18th over Hewi struck Barnes for 6 over long on. 94-3 after 25, & then in the 26th Hewi struck two 6's off Harvey Rankin's leg breaks into Altys Lane, 108-3. Both batsmen started to score freely & run well. 129-3 in the 30th became 147-3 in the 32nd as Marsh's over went for 17, two boundaries each. Adam then struck Alex Rankin for 6 in the 35th. 

With the win in sight Hewi was caught on the deep mid wicket boundary for a splendid 75 (88b, 8x4,3x6) ending a match winning partnership of 114 with Adam 48* (63b, 5x4, 1x6). Several Ormskirk fielders congratulated him as he left the field, a lovely gesture. Sean entered, struck 2 & then 4 to win the game from the last ball of the 36th over.

A magnificent victory to which everyone contributed. The semi final is scheduled for SUNDAY 29TH AUGUST AT ROSEWORTH TERRACE, (start 1300 tbc) against Sandiacre Town or Leamington who play on Sun 15th August.

Many thanks to our travelling supporters who were in good voice throughout. Another big, Bank Holiday weekend day beckons. We must continue.

NEPL DIVISION 2 

Boldon 128 all out  (42o) Stephen Lamb 48, Oliver Pallas 21, Geoff Sargon 17: Sree Kanakala 7-20, Gavin Paton 1-22, Sadiq Khan 1-23.

SNCC 132-2 Ru Fletcher 50, Sadiq Khan 50, Nathan Gough 16* Eashan Ragbir 2*.

23 points.

Boldon, with only 10, started well & were 70 without loss until Sree Kanakala began a spell from the Grove end to decimate the visitors with leg spin. The sight of two leg break bowlers in tandem was heartening for those watching. 

With weather looming Sadiq & Ru set off positively with an opening stand of 99. Ru 50 (46b, 7x4,1x6) & Sadiq 50 (39b, 8x4). Nathan finished off with 4 x 4 in 5 balls to seal the win in 16 overs. The threatened rain did not appear.

The 2's remain 9th in Division 2 with 5 games to go but have hopes of a successful T20 finals day on Sunday 15th August at Hetton Lyons, second s/f at 1300 v Washington. Final starts at 1615.

WEST TYNE LEAGUE DIVISION 1

Haydon Bridge 139-9 (35o) Alan Roskilly 1-38, Allan Davidson 1-18, Will Alexander 4-22, David Cragg 0-28, Archie McLean 0-22, Ross Ward 2-4.

SNCC 1864's 134-6 (27o) Sam Ewart 43, Ross Ward 48, Tristan Meears-White 16.

An excellent win for the 1864's featuring 4 wickets for U13 Will Alexander from 7 overs & in reply, 43 from Sam Ewart & 48 from Ross Ward. Important partnerships of 41 for the second wicket between Sam & Tris & 57 for the 6th between Ross & Alan, facing only 27 overs to reach their target.

The 1864's stay 7th in Division 1 on 168 points with 5 games to go.

May we all continue to play well please.

Duncan.