ACADEMY TRIUMPH AT BENWELL HILL.

7th Aug 2025

ACADEMY TRIUMPH AT BENWELL HILL.

BETHANABATLA & OZMEN GUIDE THE BULLS HOME.

            NEPL Sunday First Division: 3rd August 2025: SNCC v Benwell Hill (a) 40/40.

Benwell Hill 148-6 (40o) Michael Maclauchlan 22, Liam Hynd 29, Gabriel Mellor 38, Matthew Hynd 31* : Varun Gudipati 3-24, Will Young 0-22, George McConnell 1-27, Tom Oliver 1-24, Zach Henderson 1-40.

SNCC 149-7 (30.5o) Aadi Bethanabatla 52, George McConnell 17, Jan Ozmen 39*: Gabriel Mellor 1-39, Michael Maclauchlan 0-32, Ed Moody 1-27, Oli Smalley 5-26, Taylor Matthews 0-19.

SNCC won by 3 wickets- 21 points, Benwell Hill 11.

A blustery day at Denton Bank, the wicket pitched towards the tennis courts, the hosts were invited to bat; Liam Hynd & Michael Maclauchlan faced the seam of Varun Gudipati & Will Young.

A quiet start, 17 runs from 6 overs before George McConnell started a 5 over spell. At 36 in the 11th Maclauchlan (22) was bowled by a George yorker. In the next, Tom Oliver's first, Moody (1) aiming to cut, feathered to w/k Matthew Rathbone, 37-2. At 49 in the 17th Dawson (3) was caught by Aadi working to leg off Varun.

At 20 over drinks the total was 59. In the first over thereafter Liam Hynd (29) drove Zach Henderson to Will at mid off, 61-4. As Will began a second spell of 3 overs for only three, the total rose slowly to 76 in the 28th when Matthews (4) playing forward, was lbw to Varun.

Mellor & Matthew Hynd pushed on as Tom, Zach & George bowled short spells.112-5 in the 36th became 141 the 39th when Mellor (38) was bowled by Varun. Daniel Hynd joined father Matthew & the pair saw the total to 148-6 after 40 overs. Varun 3-24 the pick of the bowlers. The fielding was tidy, a blemish for the skipper who admitted dropping an easy chance,10 byes & 5 wides also showed a work in progress.

In reply Angus Southern & Aadi Bethanabatla faced the seam of Mellor & Maclauchlan, who bowled the first 8 overs for 30. In the 9th both Angus & Aadi took boundaries  before Angus (12) was bowled by a Mellor yorker, 39-1. Jan entered & immediately struck a boundary.

Aadi was going well, driving straight cleanly, taking 9 off Mclauchlan's 6th & 6 from Moody's 3rd, but at 82 in the 17th top he edged a looping catch to w/k Ahmed off Moody for 52, (54b 5x4), a splendid innings for the team. Will Carr stroked 4 then a single but in slow left armer Oli Smalley's first, drove towards Dawson at extra cover who took a low catch well, 87-3.

This presaged a very tidy spell of 7 overs taking 5 for 26 for 12 year old Oli with proud father Michael looking on. Around to the right handers, over to the left, with fight & turn, 'a couple of proper wickets' his Dad reflected. At 100 in his next, a flighted delivery turned to take the edge of Olly Alexander's (6) forward defensive & he was caught by w/k Ahmed, 4 down.

As Smalley continued Matthews entered the attack & both were faced by the power of George McConnell who struck 6's to mid wicket & long off until at 131 in the 26th, George (17) mistimed a sweep off Smalley, looping a catch to Moody on the leg side.

With overs in hand Jan was content to rotate the strike but when Varun (7) fell lbw to Smalley & Rathbone (0) was bowled off stump next ball the Bulls were 7 down, for 144. Will Young joined Jan & the pair saw the Bulls safely home taking 5 from in the 31st over, Jan 39* ( 50b, 5x4) a well marshalled innings & Will (1*).

This win leaves the Bulls Academy in third place on 192 points having played only 9 games, behind Benwell Hill on 209 from 13 & CLS on 278 also from 13.

Onward to Sun 10th August SNCC Academy v Gateshead Fell (a) 1330, 40/40.

We hope you can be there to cheer the team on.

Duncan.