ACADEMY STAY TOP OF SUNDAY FIRST DIVISION WITH GOOD WIN OVER BENWELL HILL -  ANGUS SOUTHERN THIRD CONSECUTIVE 70+

10th Jul 2023

  Sun 9^th July 2023: NEPL Sunday Division 1; SNCC v Benwell Hill 3^rd X1(h)

SNCC Academy 158-7 (40o) Angus Southern 73 rtno, Jan Ozmen 38, Ben Sidney-Wilmot 9: J Fletcher 0-28, J Patel 2-14, W Poxon 2-38, A Armstrong 0-17, D Thiranga 0-25, F Wallace 3-32.

Benwell Hill 123 ao (36.1o) D Thiranga 30, A Yaleshatter 39, J Fletcher 12, J Patel 12*: Simon West 3-17, Varun Gudipati 1-23, George Gray 0-25, Jack Netts 1-30, David Cragg 3-27.

SNCC Academy won by 35 runs - 20 points, Benwell Hill 5.

The cloud cover, residual dampness in the air & the threat of rain at 1700, persuaded the visitors to ask the Bulls to bat. Southern & McCord faced the right arm seam of Fletcher & Patel. A watchful start as the ball moved about, only 10 from 7 overs, with three consecutive maidens, until Angus hit a boundary.

Productive overs 9, (11-2x4 + 3 to Angus) & then 11 ( 2x4 +2 to Angus) but still difficult as Poxon & the off spin of Armstrong took over the attack. Jacob's (4) timing not working, was out of sorts & at 41 in the 15^th he was caught by Thiranga at cover off Poxon; Jan joined Angus.

Boundaries to Angus in the 17^th & Jan in the 18^th but at 20 over drinks the total was only 62. Some acceleration in the next 5 overs as Thiranga (rm) replaced Poxon. 86 off 25 overs became 100 in the 28^th but one ball after striking his 13^th boundary, Angus (73* rtno, 88b, 13x4) retired not out as his back problem, which had worsened as the innings developed, prevented him from running freely. Some splendid shots to long on, through the covers & square through point, a third consecutive 70+ total on a Sunday for Angus.

Will Alexander (6, 6b) was adjudged lbw to leg spinner Wallace in the 32^nd & Jan (38, 66b, 5x4), another composed innings, was caught at cover off Poxon in the 35th, 126-3. With overs running out, Tris & Ben pushed on until Ben (9, 10b) advanced to Wallace, missed the drive & was stumped in the 38th. One over later, the penultimate, Tris (7, 17b) was caught by Yaleshatter off Patel. Simon (2) was lbw to Patel & George (4) scooped the first ball of the last over to short third man to be caught by Poxon off Wallace, 151-7.

Varun (3*) & Jack (4*) finished the innings nicely, an under-par total but defendable if bowling & fielding well.

McGregor & Poxon faced the seam of Simon West & Varun Gudipati. 14-1 in the 5^th as Poxon (10,16b), playing no shot, was lbw to Simon. 36-2 in the 12^th as McGregor's (10) back foot force, edged to w/k Ben Sid off Jack. George & Jack bowled 6 over spells & the total built as Thiranga & Yaleshatter developed a partnership of 40. But in the 23^rd Thiranga (30, 46b, 3x41x6) advanced to David Cragg & was stumped by Ben Sid.

One ball later Ahmed (0) hit to Tris at mid wicket, set off for a run which was refused & failed to beat Tris's throw to w/k Ben, 76-4. In the 26^th  lh R Mustard (3) was bowled by David, reverse sweeping, 84-5. A partnership of 22 between Fletcher & Yaleshatter ended when Jen McDowell, on as a sub for Angus & fielding at mid-on, clung on very well at throat height, to a very firmly hit drive from Fletcher (12), 106-6, catches do win matches !!

The key wicket of the obdurate Yaleshatter (39,73b,1x4) was taken in the 34^th when George caught him at mid-off, Varun the bowler, 114-7. Patel hit a boundary but at 122 Armstrong (0) was lbw to Simon & 3 balls later, in the same over, Ahmad (0) lost his off stump. From the first ball of the 36^th, Wallace (0) attempting a second run to get Patel (12*) back on strike, failed to beat Jen's throw to David at the bowler's end. 158, a total defended by accurate bowling & good fielding.

A 20-point win sees the Academy remain top of Sunday First Division on 111 points. Next Sunday's visitors, on 16^th July 2023, are Sunderland (h), 1330 40/40, we hope you can be there to encourage the Bulls to continue their winning run.

Duncan.