BULLS FINISH NEPL PREMIER DIVISION RUNNERS UP AFTER DEFEAT OF FELLING
24th September 2024
2nd May 2024
SNCC v Gateshead Fell (h) Sat 27th April 2024. NEPL Division 2.
SNCC 200-9 (45o) Ru Fletcher 35, Alex Charnley 20, Nathan Gough 42, Alex Weetman 22, George Gray 26*: Tom Lugsden 1-44, Richard Smith 1-15, Charlie Franklin 2-37, Lahiru Wijesinghe 1-28, Matthew Carrick 1-34, Ravi Muthe 2-12.
Gateshead Fell 201-6 (43.5o) Steven Meek 23, Richard Smith 56*, John Devenport 53, Charlie Franklin 31: Allan Davidson 2-19, Gavin Paton 2-41, James Lunn 0-44, Ben Hobbs 0-36, George Gray 1-32, Nathan Gough 1-24, Alex Weetman 0-4.
Gateshead Fell won by 4 wickets - 24 points, SNCC 6.
On a cold day the visitors invited SN to bat. Ru Fletcher & Alex Charnley faced the seam of Tom Lugsden (Grove) & Luke Angus (Park). The pitch had some pace & bounce. An enterprising opening stand of 61 ended when Alex (20,37b 3x4) rather heaved to mid on. Ru (35,42b,5x4) followed 6 runs later, edging Franklin to w/k Devenport in over 15.
At 85 in the 18th Angus Southern (9) seemed unlucky to be given out caught behind when his bat brushed the wicket. Bizarrely the umpires consulted before the decision was confirmed.
There followed a significant partnership of 64 between Nathan Gough & Alex Weetman. 110-3 at half way drinks, but then the introduction of Wijesinghe's leg spin & the slow left am of Carrick slowed the scoring rate. At 149 in the 34th Nathan (42, 52b,4x4,1x6) was beaten by a faster one from Wijesinghe, who bowled his 9 overs for 28.
2 runs later Alex (22,50b,2x4) skied a sweep off Carrick to be caught by w/k Devenport, 151-5 after 35 overs. Lunny (9) defending, was bowled by Muthe & one run later left handed w/k Craig Manchester (0), on debut, seemed to mishit a slower one to mid on, also off Muthe, 169 -7.
This became 184-8 as Gavin Paton (5) was caught by w/k Devenport off the returning Lugsden. George Gray was batting nicely & he struck boundaries to cover & a delightful pick to square leg.
The penultimate over saw Ben Hobbs (1) run out returning for a second which left Allan Davidson to provide the flourish with a six over cover, ending 10* with George 26* (34b, 2x4), a splendid knock. However, 200-9 seemed to be only a par score.
The Fell were 37-3 after 6 overs, 6x4 1x6 ! Clark (0) caught neatly at first slip by Ru from Allan Davidson's second ball of the innings. L Meek (8) drove to mid off where Lunny retreating, held a good catch over his shoulder as he tumbled, also off Allan, who then had the misfortune to sustain a hamstring injury during his 4th over, completed by Alex Weetman. Steven Meek (23) attacked but in attempting another pull, skied Gavin Paton & w/k Craig Manchester took the catch. Three consecutive maidens from Gavin slowed the rate.
George entered the attack in over 14 & in his second, Muthe (11) drove high to mid on where Angus Southern took a good catch over his head, 59 -4. This brought the experienced Devenport & Smith together & steadily they built a match defining partnership of 81.
Changes of bowling notwithstanding, pressure releasing singles seemed to be readily available, 96-4 at half way drinks & 129 in the 30th over when a direct hit by Angus Southern from mid on seemed to find Devenport a yard short but the appeal was turned down.
An over later, karma, Devenport (53,57b,5x4,1x6) was bowled by the returning Gavin now at the Grove end, 140-5. Franklin & Smith (31*) combined & although Franklin survived a chance to long leg off Nathan Gough the score had risen to 180 after 40 overs, Franklin 19*, Smith 46*.
Although Franklin (30, 50b 3x4) survived a w/k catch chance in the 43rd off Lunny one over later, attacking, he was caught by w/k Craig off Nathan. A leg bye then saw the Fell home, Smith 56* (91b, 6x4).
In summary, perhaps 20 runs light, not enough dot balls, no real pressure built up,13 wides & a little unlucky, left a feeling of what might have been.
Onward to next Sat 4th May, SNCC v Ashington (a) ; we must continue to improve & hope to see you there.
Duncan.