1864s short of runs against strong Haltwhistle

5th Jul 2022

  Sat 2^nd July West Tyne League Division 1 (a)

1864's 128-5 (40o) Oliver Clark 25, Tris Meears-White 33, Jan Ozmen 35*:A Dodd 1-24, P Thompson 1-21, R Byerley 1-13, A Richardson 0-16.

Haltwhistle 129-5 (34.2o) M Parker 47*, D Heppell 41, R Byerley 12: Patrick Hatcher 3-15Eoghan McKeegan 0-30, Josephine Nkomo 1-12, George McConnell 0-20, Oliver Clark 1-32, Jack Netts 0-16.

Haltwhistle won by 5 wickets - 17 points, SNCC 5.

Haltwhistle won the toss & chose to field. A nice wicket slightly rain affected, the ball nibbled about as openers Clark & Agarwal faced the seam of Richardson & Dodd. A consistent 4th/5^th stump line & a ring offside field restricted scoring opportunities so at 22 in the 8^th Kush (10) called optimistically but was sent back & run out retreating. Oliver Clark & Tris Meears-White both found piercing the ring difficult.

At halfway, just 4 boundaries, 29 scoring shots & the total at 49. In the 28^th Clark (25, 2x4, 81b) was bowled by Byerley & in the 31st, Meears-White (33, 59b, 4x4) was caught by Dodd at backward point off Thompson. Ozmen scored more regularly but McConnell (3) was run out in the 36th, 97-4. Hatcher joined Ozmen & the pair increased the rate with 31 coming off the last 5 overs. Hatcher (12) was caught by Parker at cover off Dodd in the last. Ben Sid (1*) faced two balls. 128-5 after 40 overs, the thought being that this was 40-50 short.

Parker & Thompson faced the right arm seam of Hatcher & McKeegan. A steady start but at 10 in the 5^th Hatcher had Thompson (1) lbw & next ball Bell (0) in the same fashion, 10-2. Graham & Parker pushed the score along but were restricted by the medium pace of Josephine & George McConnell & in the 13th over Graham (6) was bowled by Josephine, 30-3. Clark's off breaks almost produced a catch.

At halfway the home side were 58-3. After 25 the total had risen to 87 both Parker & Heppell striking boundaries with Netts & McKeegan suffering. At 106 in the 28^th Heppell (41 53b, 2x4, 2x6)) was bowled by Clark. Parker had batted well & he & Byerley took the score to 121 in the 34^th when Hatcher had Byerley (12) caught by Netts at cover.

The winning runs came in the 36^th , Parker 47* (85b, 4x4), Richardson (6*). The bowling had been respectable, especially Josephine whose disciplined off stump line produced good figures of 8-1-12-1, but a risk-free approach by the home team with a lowish total to face.

6^th place In WTL Division 1 on 134 points, the 1864's visit leaders Humshaugh on Sat 9^th July, determined to give a good account of themselves. Onward!

Duncan.