BULLS FINISH NEPL PREMIER DIVISION RUNNERS UP AFTER DEFEAT OF FELLING
24th September 2024
20th Apr 2022
SNCC 224-6(50o) Ru Fletcher 27, Alex Charnley 72, Nick Tomlinson 34, Sam Ewart 23*, Gavin Paton 25*: Niall Cutter 1-29.
WASHINGTON 124 ao (35o) Tom Lander 53*: James Ruddick 0-9, Allan Davidson 1-7, Gavin Paton 2-24, Sree Kanakala 3-34, Alan Roskilly 1-28, Sadiq Khan 2-20,
SNCC won by 100 runs: SN 20 points, Washington 2.
A sunny day saw SN win the toss & bat on a true, if slow, surface. An opening partnership of 61 between Fletcher & Charnley ended with Ru lbw for 27. Left-handed Nick Tomlinson, re-joining his boyhood club, & fellow left hander, Alex Charnley put on 80 until at 142-1 in the 36 th , Nick (34) skied a catch. Two overs later Alex, having scored a fine 72 did the same, 148-3. Upping the rate not that easy on a slow surface, use of feet required.
Ryan Sid (0), James Ruddick (10) & Sadiq Khan (3) followed, 176-6 in the 43rd. There followed a sensible partnership between Sam Ewart 23* & Gavin Paton 25* which added 46 in the last 7 overs. Cutter's off breaks were the most difficult to get away, an economical 1-29 in 10.
Washington, missing 9 senior players in both teams, faced the seam of James Ruddick & Allan Davidson. Opener Hughes(4) was a direct hit run out victim of Ryan's throw from mid-wicket to the bowler's end in the 4th. Captain Smith was lbw to Davidson at 15 in the 8th & Cutter, mistiming a pull, c & b Paton at 35 in the 13th
The introduction of Sree Kanakala's leg breaks bemused; his first wicket saw Eccles hit a full toss to deep backward square where Allan Davidson took the catch with aplomb. Three balls later, a perfectly flighted delivery turned & Ru's sharp reaction catch at slip, left-handed, accounted for Thompson (0)
This became 79-6 after Thorpe hooked Alan Roskilly to deep backward square leg where Sadiq took a neat catch. In the next over Porter(0) was caught by Ru off Sree, at slip, 79-7. A decent stand of 44 followed between opener Lander & Melville, both playing some shots off Sadiq's leg breaks & Alan R's medium pace.
At 123 in the 34th, Sadiq had Melville caught by Ryan at mid-wicket & one ball later bowled Dixon (0). The end was nigh, Wilkie (0) was lbw to Gavin in the 35th. Opener Tom Lander carried his bat for a very commendable 53*.
20 points for the Bulls, some rustiness in bowling, 18 wides, but encouraging signs of better catching & fielding with Alan R's pace in the outfield noticeable. A tougher game altogether at home to Newcastle on Sat 23rd April, start 1200, 50 overs win/lose.