ACADEMY TRIUMPH AT GATESHEAD FELL- DAVID CRAGG SPINS A WEB.

10th Jun 2025

ACADEMY TRIUMPH AT GATESHEAD FELL- DAVID CRAGG SPINS A WEB.

NEPL Sunday First Div: 8^th June 2025: SNCC v Gateshead Fell (a) 40/40.

Gateshead Fell 141-8 (40o) Tarumbidzwa Sahanga 16, Jonty Davies 48, Archie North 11: Zach Henderson 0-27, George McConnell 1-16, Sam Lee 2-40, Archit Upadhye 0-34, David Cragg 5-18.

SNCC 142-5 (32o) Jacob McCord 27, Jan Ozmen 41, Ben Sidney-Wilmot 27, George McConnell 19: Archie North 1-26, R Sheth 1-35, Rory McCloy 0-19, Abishek Mathew 3-43, Tarumbidzwa Sahanga 0-13.

SNCC won by 5 wickets- 22 points, Gateshead Fell 5.

Despite a slight drizzle & overcast conditions the hosts chose to bat. The wicket was centrally placed, as Kalyan & Walker faced the seam of Zach Henderson (rm)  & George McConnell (lm). The SNCC Academy fielded 7 players under 18 at 31/8/2024.

At 21 in the 6^th Kalyan (10) drove George in the air to mid off where Olly Alexander took a neat catch.  Zach bowled his 5 over spell for 27 & George his 6 overs 1-12. In Sam Lee's first from the Pavilion end Walker (5) skied to mid wicket where George, moving to his right, took a good catch, one handed, over his head, 28-2.

Archit Upadhye began a spell in over 14 & the score rose only courtesy of occasional boundaries to Davies, the running seemed to lack intent against sharp ground fielding, 62-2 at halfway drinks.

David Cragg began his spell in over 21 from the Pavilion end. In 8 overs he took 5-18 as batsmen were beguiled by flight, seemingly glued to the crease. In his second over,  Sahanga (16) swung & missed to be bowled, 73-3. Archie North (11) cover drove & swept boundaries but in over 27, defending, was bowled by David as the delivery drifted in with the arm to hit leg stump. 89-4.

Two wickets in two balls in the 31st as Gray (5), aiming a big shot to mid wicket, was bowled & McCloy (0) lbw on the crease, 103-6. In the 35^th over Davies (48,63b,5x4) who had driven nicely through the off side, was also lbw, not going forward, 116-7. Curran was positive as Sam Lee & George McConnell bowled the last 4 overs.

The total rose to 139 in the 40th when Curran (18) swung to leg & missed to be bowled by Sam. A creditable fielding & bowling performance, good catches taken, but 3 missed, two difficult, & 9 wides to avoid.

In reply Aadi Bethanabatla & Jacob McCord faced the right arm seam of Archie North & R Sheth. Aadi cut for 4 in the first & Jacob drove 3x4 over mid off & mid on in the second. Jacob hit another 2x4 then in the 6^th lofted again but, to his disappointment, was caught at mid off for 27 (20b, 5x4), 36-1, a good start to the innings.

Jan drove & cut two boundaries in the 7^th but in the 9^th Aadi (5) aiming to force off the back foot, played on to North, 50-2. Jan & Ben were not troubled but were involved in a collision in over 14 as Ben sprinted to the w/k 's end to complete a second run, only to be come entangled with Jan as he turned. With both batters on the floor a dead ball was called.

None the worse for wear, in 6 overs the score rose to 94-2 after 20o with profitable runs in overs 18 &19 when the pair ran well to score 15 without a boundary. In over 22, Ben (27, 40b) lofted Mathew to mid off where he was caught, 102-3.

As the medium pace of Sahanga & Mathew continued the total rose steadily as George drove through the covers for 4 & later 2. In over 31 Jan (41, 76b, 4x4) a solid innings right for the situation, edged a drive off Mathew which was caught by w/k Curran, 128-4. George stroked another boundary but one over later he lofted high to be caught at mid wicket for19 (25b, 2x4), 137-5.

Sam Lee (2*) was joined by Olly Alexander who glanced his first ball for to tie the scores. A wide next ball sealed a 5 wicket victory, Sam (2*) Olly (4*).

Having played 5 games, the Academy occupy 4^th place in the NEPL Sunday First Division on 109 points. Second placed Whitburn are on 116 having played 6. The pair meet next Sunday 15^th June at Whitburn, 1330, 40/40. We hope you will be there to cheer the team on.

Duncan.