1864'S, LED BY AADI & GREGOR, PUT BELSAY TO THE SWORD.

19th Aug 2025

                       1864'S, LED BY AADI & GREGOR, PUT BELSAY TO THE SWORD.

                    Sat 16^th Aug 2025: NTCL Div 5 Central: SN 1864 v Belsay (a) 40/40 

Belsay 191-8 (40o) Allan Johnson 29, Sam Turner 53*, Numan Liyanage 29, Jack Hildreth 21, Craig Bertram 37: Tom Hunter 1-7, Matthew Smith 0-22, Gregor Pearce 1-8, Leo Harper 1-40, Rayyan Mohammed 2-24, Dominic Johnson 0-35, Aadi Bethanabatla 0-7, Will Asherson 2-27, Finley Birtwisle 0-20.

SNCC 1864 196-5 (23.4o) Aadi Bethanabatla 68, Alan Roskilly 17, Gregor Pearce 72*, Will Asherson 10*: Craig Bertram 1-57, Jack Hildreth 1-61, Indika Dissanayake 2-31, Jack Fenwick 0-12, Sam Turner 0-11, Archie Johnson 0-17.

SNCC 1864 won by 5 wickets- 29 points, Belsay 7.

The 1864 team, including 8 teenagers & a senior debut for Finn Birtwisle, enjoyed a dominant victory over Belsay on a cloudy day. Chasing a sizeable total by the home team the 1864's made light work of the task needing only 23.4 overs to get there with Aadi (68) & Gregor (72*) scoring freely against the hosts generous bowling.

Belsay chose to bat. Johnson & Fenwick faced the right arm seam of Tom Hunter & Matthew Smith. In the 7^th over at 17 without loss, Fenwick (3) inside edged Tom & w/k Belinda took  sharp catch, diving to his left. Turner joined Johnson & the total rose slowly as 9 overs conceded only 30. Tom bowled his 5 overs for only 7 with one maiden, an exemplary demonstration of line & length. Matthew started well in overs 1 & 2 but suffered a little thereafter.

Change bowlers Gregor (lb/g) & Leo  (rm) began spells & in his 5^th Gregor trapped Johnson (29, 3x4,1x6) lbw, 54-2. Gregor bowled his 6 overs for only 8 runs. Drinks were taken. at 55-2.

Rayyan Mohammed (rm) & Dominic Johnson (ob) bowled overs 21 to 30. Rayyan had success in his 4^th the 27^th when he bowled Liyanage (29) & in his next persuaded Hildreth (21) to sky to mid wicket where Matthew Smith took a straightforward catch. Rayyan showed impressive control of line & length & deserved his wickets. Turner was driving straight or through cover to keep the total rising. Dominic suffered a little as both batters drove strongly.

Will Asherson (ob) started a 5 over spell in over 31 & in his fourth bowled Bertram (37). In his next Mahmood (0) skied to point where Finn Birtwisle took a good catch with aplomb. Will flighted his off breaks nicely against batters intent on attack & suffered misfields so his figures perhaps do not do him justice. Finn then bowled two overs for 20 without success but Leo returned to bowl 36,38 & 40 bowling Dissanayake (2) who missed a straight one.

The innings ended at 191-8 after 40 overs, number 3 Turner 53*. Three good catches but several not taken & too many misfields, both are areas for continuous improvement. 

Belinda & Aadi faced the seam of Bertram & Hildreth. Belinda (1) chipped to cover in the second over but Aadi & Alan Roskilly made a fast start Aadi driving down the ground, through cover or mid wicket & pulling square. At 45 Alan (17) was caught at cover off Bertram. 

Soon after Leo (1) missed a straight one & was bowled by Dissanayake, 55-3 in only the 6^th over. Gregor joined Aadi & the pair rushed the score to 120 when Aadi (68, 9x4, 3x6) was palpably lbw to Dissanayake.  Powerful driving featured in a splendid innings for the team. Opening bowlers Bertram & Hildreth conceded an astonishing 149 runs in 14 overs.

Gregor continued as change bowlers Fenwick, Turner & Johnson sought a breakthrough, &  well supported by Finn (2) & Will (10*) dominated the last 5 overs as he raced to 68* finishing the innings with an audacious reverse  scoop to win the game when the scores were level in only the 24th over. Gregor 72* (6x4, 5x6), maximums over square leg, mid wicket & straight, boundaries to third man, backward point, mid wicket & down the ground, welcome back Sir !

This win maintains the 1964's 9th place in Div 5 Central on 207 points with 4 games to play beginning with SNCC v Washington (h) Sat 23^rd August 1300 40/40. We hope you can be there to cheer the team on.

Duncan.